4. Restaurants

Saburo’s

1667 SE Bybee Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202
  • (503) 236-4237
  • Store is closed

Saburo’s Menu

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  • Jen S.

    4 stars for one thing - cheap HUGE rolls the food overall is okay, and the sashimi is not as fresh as i would perfer, but you are definitely getting your money's worth!! i got the edaname and miso soup for appetizer. edaname was good. miso could have been better... the seaweed in the soup wasnt the normal texture im used to. for rolls, i got the sabu roll. really good!! it comes with 3 different types of sashimi on top and inside has cucumber, fish roe, avocado amongst other things - definitely worth it. i would have gotten more rolls if i knew it was going to be so good i also go the chef's special sashimi dish. definitely comes with a vareity of sashimi probably 6 different ones with shrimp and crab on top of cucumber i read some complaints about the staff but you write your order on the menu, so they can't get it wrong. they were very attentive, but then again i went in pretty late at like 9pm so there wasn't that many patrons. but i was satisfied.. definitely would come here again with a bigger appetite.

    (4)

  • Reed E.

    Finally made it in here, and I thought the rolls were pretty good. Although their mammoth size made for awkward eating, I had to eventually forgo the chopsticks and just dive in. The service was attentive and quick, for how busy it was. Guess I lucked out, I showed up at 5 on a Tuesday and was able to follow the line in and snag a table. I could not imagine waiting 1+ hours to get in here. It was good, but not spend my whole night in Sellwood good. Also, $.75 for refills? Pffft. I'll probably come back if I can walk right in, and maybe smuggle a Sprite in my purse.

    (4)

  • Cayla C.

    I am not a fan of sushi, but everyone in our party loved this place! The rolls were giant to say the least. My meal (chicken teryaki) was delicious as well as the sesame chicken appetizer. The place was packed, the service was fine. Bring an umbrella to wait in line though!

    (4)

  • Jando S.

    While the service has taken a turn for the worst, the ever-crowded, line waiting, enormous sized sushi is worth it ... only if you're in the mood for it. Saburo's happens to be one of those places in which the pros nearly outweigh the cons with an incredible line (arrive by 4:30 or you might be in for a wait), crowded atmosphere, sushi quality varies, spotty service, and limited parking. If those things don't turn you off, then this is an ideal spot for the cheap eats for fish cuts almost large enough to fill a burger (see nigiri sake - salmon). Some of the sushi elitists out there may be turned off by many of the elements that make this place as popular, however, its worth a try at least once.

    (4)

  • M Z.

    The sushi was hit or miss depending on what we got. For instance, the Hawaiian roll was pretty good, but the negihama roll, salmon skin roll, eel nigiri, etc were dominated by an overwhelmingly large quantity of rice. Without a doubt, the common theme was lots of rice and so so fish. Between the two of us, there was at least 1+ lb of rice we ditched. This is your place if you are looking for quantity over quality. Just like voodoo donuts, you end up ordering more than you want or need because of the long wait in line only to be disappointed by a brilliant business model that somehow gets people to assume something is good because so many people are willing to wait in line for it.

    (2)

  • Tan N.

    One-word impression: SUPER As in super-sized, super-cheap, and super-tasty. I've braved the long lines at Saburo thrice now, and I have left each time with two feelings that I don't normally leave a sushi bar with: complete fullness and less strain on my funds. My latest experience was no different, as I took my little sister out to experience the madness that is Saburo. First, to those unfamiliar with Saburo, understand that this is no classy or refined place, and that there are some significant negatives for serious dilettantes. The wait is very long, the atmosphere is cramped, and the service can be pushy. However, for those who can be okay with that, the experience of eating the jumbo-sized sushi for a reasonable price more than makes up for such negatives. Additionally, I will also admit that the quality of the fish and rice themselves are not as high as some of the high-end sushi places I've been to over the years, but they are still pretty good. On this occasion, my sister and I shared an order of the unagi sushi, the budokan roll, the karate roll, and the spider roll. You only need to look at the photos that others have posted to see how much food this actually came out to be. We ended stuffing ourselves silly, which is such a rarity when eating out for sushi. On top of that, the whole meal with some drinks was less than $20 per person, which is phenomenal. Overall, Saburo may not have the supreme quality that fancy sushi places have, but for the quantity and price, you won't find a better value dining anywhere else in town. I will gladly brave the wait line again if only just for the feeling of getting so much more for less.

    (5)

  • h p.

    i always heard about this spot and last night was my chance to check it out. let me tell you: i'm still full (mind you... i'm the queen of never getting full from sushi)! we waited an hour and a half (limelight around the corner has great happy hour drinks) before we were seated... the portions are GINORMOUS. the prices are relatively inexpensive for the amount of food one gets. this is definitely not a date spot unless you find shoving an enormous piece of sushi in your mouth sexy.

    (4)

  • Yusuf P.

    I'm from Seattle and i came here with my friends for a mini vacation. My coworker recommended me that this restaurant was the best sushi ever. I got there around 6ish, the restaurant was full, so I put our name is the waiting list. There is 6 of us. We waited for over an hour to get our seat. We ordered so much but they make it so fast. The sushi was huge size portion, and taste incredibly good. We ordered yakisoba and doesn't taste good.. don't order that. Service was friendly. One of the best sushi place that i ever eat. This place is worth of waiting.. I totally recommended to anyone that patient enough to wait.. :p

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    You have to wait at least two hours before you can go in. If that's not for you then cut down on the number of people in your party. The portions are enormous and the price is so cheap, a definite plus. Do get your orders right because it will be a long time before you'll see them again. There's just too many people and the space is small, and the staff is limited.

    (3)

  • Paul K.

    Saburo's is a little hole in the wall place that is easily missed. I was recommended to come here by a few friends, and I'm glad I did. First of all, the service is mediocre. The waiters are inattentive, unfriendly, and don't stop to refill drinks. This was the case the last few times I went there, so its to be expected. Regardless, I came here for the food, and boy...they don't dissapoint. Saburo's offers huge portions of food - rolls/raw fish/handrolls that are not only generous, but delicious. Go with any of the special rolls and you won't be disappointed. The nigiri portions are also big, and the fish is surprisingly fresh. Its not the best quality around, but value-wise you are getting great sushi at a very reasonable price. Definitely try it out, best for those that are hungry and don't care too much about service or top notch quality!

    (5)

  • Christie P.

    I think there are different levels of sushi restaurants, so before you get on your sushi-connissour-high-horse, take into consideration the cost. If you are going to pay maybe 3 bucks for two pieces of salmon nigri, then it isn't going to make your taste-buds orgasm. However, if the fish is fresh and melts in your mouth - then you have the right to be excited that you found a decent sushi joint that's softer on your pocket book. That being said: I heart Saburo's. As my sister-in-law said to me, "Just another reason to move to Portland..." Three of us ordered: - salmon nigri - hamachi nigri - spicy tuna roll - real crab California roll (real crab?! c'mon!) - tuna maki - spider roll At a normal restaurant, this would have probably made all our tum-tums content, but alas - you're at Saburo's. We took almost all the tuna maki home! HUGE rolls and, though I don't think bigger is better, every bit was flavorful and delicious! And our bill was less than 40 bucks! Can I get a high-five, seriously!? Super-downer: the wait, but I say give this place a try.

    (4)

  • Carolina J.

    Since my last posting,I HAVE been to this excellent sushi joint!! I took some cool photos of the sushi,HUGE,indeed! I ended up taking a lot of it home,so I have sushi for 3 days afterwards,YUM!!! There is Sake and other Alcohol offerings available,if you feel like having a sip. However,the main focus here is upon the SUSHI. Order as you sit down,,after you've read the menu. ENJOY!! :)

    (5)

  • Scott P.

    It's simple. Quantity does not equal quality. Rude service is not "edgy". I've been here several times over the years. Someone always convinces me to go back. The result is always the same. They give huge chunks of low-quality sushi that looks like it has been hacked off with a machete. It's sloppy sushi but it is, admittedly, plentiful. If quantity of sushi for the $ is your aim, then Saburo's is good for that. But you have to put up with the fact that the waitstaff is just downright mean to get that plentiful plate of poor quality sushi. Mean, rude, nasty. Really.

    (1)

  • Evan R.

    OK I will jump into this firestorm too. There are much better places to get sushi than Saburo's in Portland. I said it I will not appologize for it. I have eaten here twice once a few years ago and then about 6 months ago both with regulars who swear it is the best place ever. Each time I thought ok lets give it a try. I love sushi and am always looking out for good eats but to me Saburo's just isnt it. The review by Joshua C is totally right on. Sushi is balance. I have been taught that by my step-mother, one of the first trained female sashimi chefs; by our family Japanese friends; and most importantly from a pure taste stand point of my own palate. Sure a roll the size of your head may be cool but it is impracticle to eat and you miss most of the flavors the roll is trying to impart. And a giant slab of fish over a tiny and not that wonderfully seasoned rice (and yes the rice for sushi is just as important as the fish) is lacking balance in so many ways it just isnt that good. I will say the amount of seafood they give you for your money is outstanding, I wonder how they pull off giving such a good deal. The fish always seems fairly fresh. And I have liked the food it is just I can see how much better it would be with a little more TLC from the chef. If you want to enjoy the best sushi in Oregon go to Syun, it is just a tad more expensive, but the fish, rice, food over all is so much better you'll be glad you paid a little more.

    (2)

  • Chingy W.

    Big and scrumptious sushi, tempura veggies, veggie yakisoba, cucumber seaweed salad bento box all for $10 bucks and did i mention its scrumptious?! It hit the spot after my intensive run. Need I say more ? I went right before closing so theres no line but the server looked pissed Oh well.

    (5)

  • Aaron G.

    Ben recommended that we go here for sushi. So like the mindless sheep we are, Marianne and I drove here hoping for some fantastic sushi. I also read the yelp reviews and expected a lot. The wait wasn't too bad... it gave us a chance to really go over the menu. The first thing that came to mind was DAYAM!! cheap cheap cheap. At that moment, i told myself i was going to order to my heart's content. I had no idea what kind of mess i was getting myself into. We ordered 2 california rolls, 2 spicy tuna rolls, 2 of some shrimp tempura roll, a spider roll, another roll for which i forgot its name, uni nigiri, salmon belly nigiri, creamy scallop nigiri, a miso soup, agadashi tofu, and a large kirin. 2 rolls were actually for a friend we were going to bring food to. Anyhoo, i didn't realize that the rolls would come out to be the size of a tiny kitten (why i used the size of a kitten for this comparison, I really don't know.) I got through all the nigiri and 2 rolls. Marianne ate one roll and we finished the soup and tofu. This left us with 3 rolls... and i'm not even including the 2 that were for our friend. The sushi was made with too much rice and being such big portions, its like you were eating 50% to 75% rice and the rest was the fish and stuff. I also thought the rolls weren't particularly tasty. Maybe i'm a sushi snob but I felt like it wasn't that awesome. All it had going for it was its size. I was so full that i knew i was going to go into a food coma, a really really uncomfortable one...

    (3)

  • John R.

    My 5 star rating is based in their food and food alone because there are several other things one could nit-pick about Saburo's which I'll mention, but my rating is based only on their food. The wait- expect to wait up to an hour to eat. This place always has a long, long wait. I believe it opens at 5pm, and the wait probably starts around 4. The decor is nothing special, with some cafeteria style seating and very small two person tables scattered around the place. All that said the sushi is the best I've ever had. It always seems prepared fresh and the serving sizes are quite big. Keep this in mind when you order. I have never not ordered way too much. I recommend you under-order and plan on ordering more should you still be hungry. Saburo's is my favorite sushi restaurant around, and their prices are reasonable.

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    A truly disgusting experiece. Japanese cuisine is far more about presentation, quality, and atmosphere than it is about shoveling hunks of fish into one's mouth. This restaurant is designed to appeal to the typical American -- everything is super-sized and meaty. The fish is the same as everywhere else (pretty much every sushi restaurant in town get their fish from the exact same place). No real wasabi. No uncooked octopus or scallop. Terrible presentation. All farmed salmon Revolutingly huge sides of fish per each sushi.

    (1)

  • Mike K.

    Since I'm in the minority in thinking this place blows I'll give you the good first. 1. It's cheap. 2. The Eel is very good. THAT SAID . . . I can't begin to understand why this place is so overrated. The portions are not huge they are incorrect. I love big portions, I'll eat a steak the size of plate without blinking an eye and I'm very good with chopsticks and shoving food into my mouth. But sushi is about bite size islands of goodness and Saburo's doesn't give you that. Instead you get bland flavors, a ton of rice, small pieces of regular fish, and no wonderful island goodness. The rolls themselves are utterly uninspired. Want to see how many rolls you can make out of cucumber, imitation crab meat, and cream cheese? Then come on down! I wasn't expecting ambiance, but something about people peering through a window checking on your progress so they can get seated really made me feel like a turkey around mid November. Not a fan but if you decide to believe the other 52 people who have reviewed this place do yourself a favor, order the eel and pick up the tab for your girlfriend and her parents.

    (2)

  • Pete F.

    They have the largest sushi in town, not really a fan of their sushi rice breaks too easily. Be there early, other wise expect a long wait in line.

    (4)

  • Julian P.

    BEST SUSHI IN PORTLAND, HANDS DOWN! anyone who gave this place a poor review has NO IDEA what they are talking about. 1) food is great, and the portions are huge, so you get tons of high quality delicious fish for very little dinero. no joke, you get like half the eel when you get an unagi nigiri 2) so f'N GOOD 3) spend $15, eat like a king and have food left over, HEAVEN! 4) if this place ever leaves portland i will weep like a small child who feels as if the world is empty (it is without sushi from SABURO's!!!!) 5) how could you complain about this place, seriously?! it is delicious, i have been like 10+ times AND ALWAYS LOVE IT. for those who don't like it, GOOD, don't come back - more for the rest of us! Shorter line! Ill gladly eat you share (and more!). But seriously, this place is great! Cheers

    (5)

  • Juan H.

    My favorite place to east in the whole world. I always get here before five so you can avoid the wait.. It's annoying to see People who don't like this place because the sushi is too big, or for having to wait. I personally have witnessed over the years, the owner of this palce take great pride in this establishment. It is very apparent that he cares about quality, freshness and the customers. He has kept the prices low to keep loyal customers coming back. Not becasue he's skimping on the fish. I have never experienced dirty dining or any other negative service. It's true they do close two times a year and there is always a wait. You can always go grab a beer and come back, it's well worth the wait. Even if you're passed up on the waiting list they get you in the very next table. i have been going here for ten years and I will continue to go. I must say that if you like spicy tuna hand roll... You will have must get one here! It's huge and it's very satisfying.. Come to Saburo's if you want what experts know is the real.. Have a spider roll too. It's hard for me to refrain from bias comments but this place is my favorite place to eat ever! Disregard reviews criticizing for the pieces being too big. If you don't like their sushi I'd challenge that person's love for it in general. That being said, yes they are large and perhaps not for the faint of heart. I would suggest this as a great first date because it is fun watching people try to get the pieces to their mouths with chopsticks.It's a challenge and there's lot's of dropping fish and splattering of soy sauce and wasabi so wear a bib or a crappy t-shirt. Fun plae and for a great price!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Now, before I get pelted to death with raw fish, let me say that I WANTED to love this place. I heard so many great things about it from my friends, saw what the Yelpers had to say, and was really excited to try out what I expected was going to be my new favorite sushi joint. Yeah, not so much. Let me start out by saying some nice things about the place. The location is nice, and parking wasn't hard to find. I have to say that the sushi rolls here are the biggest I've seen by far, and as one person said, I couldn't believe they made sushi you had to eat with two hands! For the size of the rolls, this place was dirt cheap. Now that I've played nice, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty. The fish wasn't that great. Oh yeah, I said it. The fish was not nearly as fresh as other places I've eaten at which would account for why it's so cheap. Fresh, top-quality fish is spendy! I've been to places where the sushi wasn't edible, but that wasn't the case here. It was just that it didn't leave a lasting impression. The other issue I had was the wait. I suppose if you are a lover of the restaurant then you wouldn't mind; however, I was not. Imagine how I feel about the 1-hour+ of my life I can't get back? I thought Jenna's suggestion about the happy hour was a good one though for those of you who do like this place and need to find a way to kill time. Lastly, and probably the biggest reason I probably won't eat here again is the service. Oh Lord, that service. *shakes head* They barely talk to you, throw the food down on the table, and you are never allowed to order again. I felt like I was in Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" episode! I was told that was par for the course with this place. There are some places you'll travel to great lengths to (it took us nearly an hour in traffic to get out there) for a good meal. This isn't one of them. Let the fish-slapping begin!

    (2)

  • Kody L.

    I can't believe how all over the place ratings are for Saburo's, especially the bad ones considering this is any college student's dream sushi spot . From my history with this place (I've been here several times over the years), these are the valid points: Good: -- Huge portions for cheap! -- Eel is highly recommended. -- The sushi is pretty damn good (I wouldn't claim the best). -- Great for sushi virgins. Bad: -- The wait (you're looking upwards of an hour on a busy night) -- The service (why focus on it when you have no trouble attracting customers) -- Dirty, cafeteria-style environment. (not really dirty, but could use a remodel) Here's how to have it all: --Go on a Monday evening when the wait is around 10 minutes at high dinner time. --Get the eel, edamame and salmon nigiri (it really is more tender than most standard-quality places), and at least a couple rolls. --Bring cash (there's a two credit card limit per table). --Limit the group size to four people. --Ignore the hype and by-the-book sushi ratings. It is what it is: huge portions of cheap sushi. I love Saburo's and hope all my friends can experience it. It's worth the wait and gives you a nice hour to kill checking out nearby bars. I personally appreciate this because I never make my way to that part of town and it's worth exploring.

    (3)

  • S.Marie C.

    Love, love, love this place for Sushi. And the long wait . . .well it's just part of the experience. Every now and then we hit it just right and we don't have to wait. It's our favorite local place to bring our Sushi loving friends and family because the fish is so fresh, the portions are huge, and Sushi lovers are always impressed. Yes it's loud, the wait is long, and the service is . . . . well busy . . . and we love every bit of the experience.

    (5)

  • Bob S.

    I love the sushi at Saburo's. It's obviously one of the best places in Portland since there is always a line. I've always been very impressed with the food but the large portion sizes are what really make this a great experience. They have so much more than just sushi, too. Get there early (at least a half hour before they open) or you will be waiting a looooong time! But it's definitely worth the wait!

    (4)

  • Kevin J.

    I shall not waste too much breath on Saburo's. Connor.T says it best; large portions, for very average fish, and long lines for no reason. A place for those new to sushi to become impressed very easily. If I could tell someone, ANYONE in line; it would be, "head around 3.6 miles northeast to Yoko's, you and your stomach will thank me!"

    (1)

  • Sharon Q.

    Got there at 430 seated by 515. As stated, fish was very fresh. Delicious. My daughter, the unagi queen, thought it the best she ever had. The spider roll, so fresh and crunchy. First time there. Will def be back!

    (5)

  • Jedd C.

    First of all, 53 reviews...you know people are going to Saburo's for a reason: Value Definitely the biggest cuts of fish (pretty fresh) for the price. To compare, 2 pieces of Saburo nigiri sushi = 4 pieces of Mio nigiri (for the same quality and same price). Even the rolls are humongous... You should decide whether to eat at Saburo's depending on your mood, or who you are with: Saburo's is for those that want to leave full and satisfied.... Saburo's is not for people who want authentic, traditional, innovative sushi...or for the ambiance for that matter It's like trying to decide on Subway or Kenny's and Zuke's for a sandwich.... Either way, i'd still recommend going to Saburo's at least once...and if you do, go early cause it get's busy..Happy Eatings...

    (3)

  • Rachael J.

    "Saburo's didn't get 5 starts for atmosphere... those stars are all for the food! HUGE portions, plan on sharing. Everything was very fresh and best of all you can request not to have any mayonnaise sauces on the rolls. I went with a regular, so he knew to arrive before the 4:30 pm opening time to avoid the wait. A trip is worth the wait in the line, but I don't have much patience waiting for food. Many of the other patrons printed out the menu ahead of time and marked their orders allowing them to be at the front of the line in the kitchen."

    (5)

  • Derrick W.

    One of my favorite places in Portland! Just need to get there early or you would be waiting in a LONG line!

    (5)

  • Quynh b.

    WACK. It's like McDonalds. Cheap, Supersized, and who the hell knows where they got their fish from. But unlike McDonalds, people wait 30+ min for it. The fish was poor quality. I don't know how anyone can eat it. I'd rather get smaller portions but great quality in fish. Maybe because I was seated at the bar and saw how everything was handled. YUCK. I wanna pretend it was clean. But I can't deny what my eyes saw. Portland... this is BAD sushi!!!! Don't go for it just because its cheap and big. Sushi is sushi because of the quality of the fish. Without fresh grade A fish then it's just not sushi. Period.

    (2)

  • Alissa R.

    This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland! The rolls are HUGE and the fish is super fresh and tastes incredible. My favorites are the Hawaiian Roll and the Salmon Belly Nigiri... yum! Yes the wait is often a deterrent but if you go later in the evening on a week day, you shouldn't have to wait more than 15 min (results not always typical and of course excludes Friday).

    (5)

  • Alex T.

    There's a reason this place always has a line outside every day. It's one of the best places for sushi. Big portions at good prices. Good enough for me. The yakisoba isn't so great though, it tastes kind of weird but overall, it's a must for anyone who likes Japanese.

    (5)

  • Brock F.

    If you are a sushi snob, skip this place. Sure, just like Claim Jumper, you get more, but more of what? Eating sashimi should make me a happy camper; waiting 1+ hour, loud music and noisy atmosphere, enduring rude help who pushes you to order and stuff it down quick, and then realizing that the mushy tasteless fish must be the rejects from the better sushi bars put the kibosh on any food pleasure. I'd rather have wasabi stuffed up my nose than try this again.

    (1)

  • Alan F.

    There are so many great reviews about Saburos here I figure no point in being repetitive. So I will try something a little different and put in my two cents from a vegetarian perspective. So vegetarians and vegans take notice, the vege sushi is great, absolutely wonderful, tasty and filling! Saburos has a very decent selection of food for us vege types. Some folks here on Yelp have criticized Saburos for having "quantity over quality". Well, I respectfully disagree. I think the popularity of the restaurant speaks for itself about both the quantity and quality. Okay back to a vegetarian's perspective. The vege rolls are not only generous in size but delicious. They seem to get how to make tasty vegetarian rolls. Look, I'm not a big guy, but I appreciate a Japanese restaurant where I can get a reasonable sized, non-budget breaking, order of vege sushi and not come out hungry. I especially like the vege roll and Budokhon roll. The vegetable tempura is wonderful - crisp and not greasy. If you have non-vege folks in your party also ordering sushi, its probably a good idea to ask your server to put your vege sushi on a separate serving dish. Otherwise, you may find some fish eggs from a spider roll, for instance, spilling over on to your vege rolls. As other reviewers have mentioned, it can get crowded, and their can be a long line, so if you don't want to wait too long you should either get their before they open or come for a late dinner.

    (5)

  • Liz G.

    Saburos rocks. Yes, you have to wait. No, they won't call you. This is my favorite sushi in Portland. The hamachi collar and baby octupus are some of my favorites. The portions are huge and it is affordable. I have liked all the rolls I got there. Well worth putting up with the hecticness of getting seated and your food order in.

    (5)

  • Natascha C.

    I love sushi and I have eaten a lot of sushi. This is the best sushi I have EVER had. The portions are huge. The price seems high, but what you get for your money is phenomenal value. If you love sushi you have to go to Saburo's! I know I'll be back time and time again.

    (5)

  • alice t.

    this place used to be so great...but now quality control just flew out the window. I ordered a chicken rice bowl, but received what looked like chicken and some soupy like brown rice mix, which neither looked nor tasted good. there was entirely too much sugar in the sauce and too much sauce on the bowl. maybe the should try their own dishes occasionally to check the taste because it was certainly disappointing. even the sushi has gone down in size and freshness. sad things arenrt the same anymore.

    (2)

  • ToniAnn M.

    Size DOES matter! When it comes to sushi, I feel that a roll, or nigiri alike should be like having a "little" party in your mouth. What fun is the party when half of the guests have to wait outside because they can't fit in? The pieces are way too big! The fish is fresh, but the seaweed is a bit too chewy. The presentation is sloppy.... I mean the rolls are so big you already run the risk of "sushi roadkill" on your plate without any help from the not so sticky rice & the pieces not being cut through all the way. Not impressed. I agree with previous reviews saying quantity does NOT equal quality. It was just no fun for me.

    (2)

  • angie w.

    We had heard all about this place, and people were raving about it. Supposedly, they had the BEST sushi and because it was SO good, the restaurant was always WAY busy, therefore, you could only order once (kind of arrogant, or so I thought), so you were warned ahead of time by the food servers and sushi chefs to order enough food, that way you'd be sure to walk out the door feeling full and satisfied. Our experience of Saburo left us neither feeling full nor satisfied. Gross! (I seriously felt the need to stop and buy some Rolaids on our way home!) True to the rumors we'd heard, the fish was huge in size, but not in taste. While we proceeded to try and gnaw our way through a few bites, we eventually gave up entirely and asked our food server for the bill. Really, this sushi is much like a giant slab of old fish placed on top some Uncle Ben's, day-old rice. So nasty. Really! I don't understand how in the world anyone could give this restaurant a good review, let alone 5 Stars. It's fishy, gross, and the restaurant downright dirty. What is it with Portland and dirty sushi restaurants? We've run into several of them since we moved here. How can anyone eat at a dirty sushi restaurant? Try Hiroshi in the Pearl District. It's clean. You can order as much as you like, when you like, and take your time ordering. There's no rush. (Hmph, imagine that!) They have amazing fish (small in size, yet HUGE in taste), in fact, it's the best we've come across in the (4) years we've lived in the Portland area.

    (1)

  • Liz W.

    I consider myself to be a bit of a sushi snob. I suppose working in one of LA's top sushi joints can do that to you. However, I would trade a meal at Nobu for a meal at Saburo's any day. I wont waste time talking about the long wait because I feel the other reviews gave it its due. Just go up to the bar on the corner and grab a beer while you wait. The seating is a bit smooshy, and you will inevitably take part in your neighbors' conversations. But who doesn't like making new friends? The sushi is divine, the portions are amazing and the sake is VERY reasonable. I recommend the g sake. I've ordered that same bottle at other restaurants and it has been more than twice as expensive.

    (5)

  • Autobon Auto Sales, LLC. A.

    My favorite sushi restaurant! The wait is so worth it and the service is great!

    (5)

  • Matt K.

    LOVE IT! When there is a line down the block before the place opens, you KNOW its good. Craving sushi, we decided to goto Saburo's to gorge ourselves. I love that when you sit down, you just mark what you want on the menu. I can't quite remember everything we ordered but it was all very good. From what I can remember, any nigiri we ordered had a ridiculously huge piece of fish on top, I mean ginormous! We ordered Toro and it was reasonably priced and buttery on the tongue. Our spider roll, spicy tuna roll, eel rolls were all huge and very good. The poke bowl was fantastic with huge chunks of tuna and a nice hint of sesame oil. Some things you need to keep in mind when coming to Saburo's: 1. Get there early...like at least 30 mins before they open, you don't want to miss the first seating. 2. Decide what you want to eat quickly, mark the menu and wave your hands wildly until a server takes your menu and orders - get your order in quickly and get your food quickly before the kitchen gets bogged down. 3. Come hungry, order tons, leave happy and pleasantly surprised at how affordable the meal was in relation of how uncomfortably full you are. For the 4 of use, we all were stuffed at the tune of $90! Wow! I love Saburo's and I will be coming back!

    (5)

  • David M.

    For some reason I kept saying Subaru's in my head. I think I'll be sticking with that. 4 **** seems fair. From all the hype I had been hearing, I was expecting to explode after eating here. Fortunately, there were no explosions for this lad (except in the crotch area). The menu actually described the portions as "Texas-sized." SHWING! You got this Texas boy's attention! As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, which was actually obnoxious until I moved out of Texas and then I realized they were for real. Now my hankerin' for larger portions and buffet menus is just never fully satisfied. Until now! We started with miso, which was definitely bolder and more flavorful than any other miso I've ever tasted. Miso gets 5 *****. Best miso I've ever had. Edamame is standard. Veggie tempura is golden! Literally! I've never had veggie temp. with onions! 5 ***** !! On to the main course: Salmon sashimi (8 large pieces), salmon belly nigiri, maguro, and yellowtail. Yellowtail is at the top of the list, probably because I always hope yellowtail tastes the way that it tasted at Saburo's. I've never had such good yellowtail in all my life, and asking the people around me, that was the general consensus. "It's why I come here," said Mr. Plaidpants, as I look over at his plate and see an entire yellowtail fishie waiting to be eaten up. Red tuna was yummy, but was probably at the bottom of the list. Salmon comes in at number 2, with the yellowtail winning the gold medal. The service was just lovely. They were incredibly fast, despite the packed restaurant. The food came out in record speed, with a smile to boot. To boot sure is a weird saying isn't it. Oh and by the way I failed to mention that Subaru's puts ice poop in the drinks! You know, the Sonic-style, round, perfectly crunchy ice that you can eat buckets of. Ice poop galore! The green tea wasn't half bad either. I'm deducting a star because honestly, it wasn't the most amazing fish in the world. The portions were larger, but that still isn't enough for this fatty to throw up 2 crusty thumbs. I'd rather have smaller portions of higher quality. Also, what in the world is worth waiting 2 hours outside in the cold for. That sounds like a lot of hype to me! Here's an idea: Rent out the place nextdoor and make your restaurant larger, OR turn it into a bar. Then, the crowd of fatties mooing outside can mozy on into a nice warm bar to order drinks. Think of the profit! With that aside, I'd happily visit Subaru's again and again and again.

    (4)

  • Songphon M.

    Every time I go there, there is always a waiting line. People (including me) seem to be patient enough to wait. Well, it's worth the wait as the sushi here is big and delicious. I really like the "Unagi" or Eel shusi here as it comes in huge serving. I also enjoy Big "O" Roll which is a fried sushi with delicious fish and assortment filling - coming with special dipping sauce that compliments the taste nicely. I also love "Rainbow Roll" which is not on the menu, you have to ask the stuff to write down this item for you. It is basically two of different sushi rolls of tuna and crab meat with avocado filling and mayo topping. Yummy!

    (4)

  • Neil O.

    Wow! The photos pretty much tell the whole story. Gargantuan portions at jaw-dropping prices. What you don't see is hit or miss waiter service. Others have said the wait can be long. And I don't mean the food, but a table. A signup sheet hangs by the front door. If you aren't there before the doors open, sign up immediately! I've seen newbies fail to notice the little clipboard and others sign up ahead of them while they wait patiently for the crowd to dwindle. What a pity. I've also seen people erase a name in the queue and write in their own. For shame. You see, it's a battlefield out there. Once you get past the barbed wire and landmines (mild exaggeration) a coveted seat awaits. Another tip: print out a copy of the menu on their website and fill it in before visiting Saburo's. The wait will seem much shorter and I'm sure the waiter appreciates it. Plus, it will be the only order you'll get to make on your visit, because that's how they run things. I recommend, well, all of their nigiri. Their sea urchin (an acquired taste) is actually quite good. I hate to admit this, but their salmon nigiri, made from farmed salmon, tasted better than any wild salmon nigiri I've had. Probably because of the extra fat that gave it its smooth, buttery flavor. Also a hit is their fried salmon skin salad. Their tempura is so-so average. Try a bit of everything. I'm willing to bet nothing on their menu will disappoint. Just don't try it all in one sitting!

    (5)

  • Shiyala B.

    I was a little nervous to try this place... I'm kind of a armature when it comes to sushi if its not going around on a conveyor belt I'm lost!! But i fell in love.. the sushi is amazing and so Delicious !!! I absolutely love the "Big O roll so good and by far my favorite! I will definitely be going back soon... even though the wait is long the food is so worth it!

    (4)

  • Lily P.

    Love, love, love Saburo's! Yeah, the line is long, but if you get there just before they open you'll typically get in and if you go for a late dinner 8ish or 9ish, or on an off night like a Tues. or Wed., it's the same. Now every time I eat at a different Sushi place I'm always disappointed by the portions and the bill. Saburo's is the "mother load" of sushi! You won't be disappointed by the quality or the quantity or the bill. I always end up having left-overs for a late snack ;-) The atmosphere is casual and hip, kind of noisy cafeteria style, food comes quickly once you're seated. If you're waiting in line to be seated try Kay's up the street - they make awesome John Daily's and the bartenders are fab ;-)

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    Best Sushi ever. I give this place 5 stars for its category of cuisine. Everything tastes so fresh. There's always at least a 15 minute wait. Open only for dinner starting at 5pm. Order everything at once and know what you want cause that's all you get! So order more than less. The tempera rolls and specials are perfectly crisp and light and served with the most delicious sauce. I wish they would let me take a gallon of it home. Beautiful fresh fish. If raw fish is not your thing, there's plenty of other options. Usually spend about $70 between 3 people including sake and some food left over to take home.

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    Simply the best for when you want to gorge on sushi - big rolls little prices. But the line. The godforsaken line. Makes me wonder if I should knock my rating down a star or two. If you are so hot to trot that you have a two hour line stretching around the block, why not expand? Seriously. Just expand enough to knock the line down to one hour. You'll still be Saburo's. I don't do lines, because I read somewhere once that if you stand in enough of them, by the time you die, the tally will add up to months and possibly years. With this fear in mind, my strategy is to go spontaneously on a horribly rainy day. I bet a snowy day would work even better ! Anyway, I check my name right when they open and go back and wait in the car. You and your buds can take turns checking on your status. When you get ok'd for clearance, they can cell-y tele you back in the car. Or we will wait for the evening of said stormy night and do the same thing about 30 minutes before closing. The food is great and cheap, but lines are for people who enjoy being bored and watching cars drive by.

    (4)

  • Mason P.

    BEST SUSHI PLACE EVER! The rolls are big and come in amounts of 4-8 rolls per order. They are not only big but delicious! On top of that, there's a large selection of sushi, and the prices rock! For a group of 3 people, spending $30-$35 total will more than fill you up and satisfy you. Best place for cheap sushi, but also has a a lot of quantity and quality. The only thing about Saburo's, is that it can take a while to get in. Expect to wait 15-45 minutes to get in. It's not open all day but when it is open it's packed. Why? BECAUSE IT ROCKS!

    (5)

  • Lynn I.

    This place is awesome and my favorite sushi place in town. Why? Because the rolls are really big, and the sushi is really fresh (My husband is half Japanese and confirmed the "freshness of the sushi") The price is affordable as well. The other food they serve such as their yakisoba is delicious!

    (5)

  • LaQueanya H.

    Not impressed definitely had better. Not a sushi aficionado, but big chunks of imitation crab meat in my sushi is not great!

    (2)

  • Olivia T.

    SUSHI! Giant SUSHI! Saburo's sushi is good and affordable, but be prepare to wait for at least one hour if you came after they are open. To avoid the wait, you can wait before they are open at 5 pm. If you got there at 5 or after 5, you will need to wait. That's what usually happen to me. I always thought I got there earlier, but seems like other people got there way before I did. Salmon skin salad is my favorite appetizer there...crunchy salmon skin...yum.

    (4)

  • Ryan H.

    Long wait. Cool neighborhood. Close bars to kill time. Put your phone number on the list, they'll call you (sometimes). The sushi here isn't the greatest quality. It's huge. The awe factor will keep you hooked for the first 4-5 visits, when you bring new friends and have to show them. After a while the novelty wears thin. You realize it's a long wait. Cool neighborhood. And the bars are actually more fun to hang out at than Saburo's. Best things to order? Salmon Belly & River Eel & Miso Soup. Forget the rolls - it's all just sugary rice.

    (3)

  • Michael P.

    Okay, so I know the ratings for Saburo's is all over the place, but I'm giving my ratings with the preface that I'm not a sushi expert (I can't roll it on my own, my sushi palette is quite limited, nor have I even been to Japan) and I went about 30 minutes before it closed on a Sunday night. The rolls are indeed very large and for the price make it a really great deal for someone who enjoys eating a lot of sushi. I've had some really cheap sushi before, but the quality of the sushi here was a lot better than I anticipated given the price. Based on the combination of price and quantity, I think this is a great place. It probably isn't ideal for the savvy sushi enthusiast or impatient restaurant goer.

    (4)

  • Niki J.

    let me just say.. this sushi was amazing!!! yes we waited 1 1/2 hours on a wednesday night for it, but totally worth it. if your going to complain about the wait then your probably not from portland, because we all know all the best places in town are small on the inside and require you to wait. thats just part of the portland culture. anyway... it was delicious, the fish was soft and buttery, the portions were huge, the price was definitely right. the food came out pretty quickly and although the staff wasn't over the top friendly they brought the food in a timely manner and cleared dishes quickly, so what's to complain about? no, some of this sushi is not "authentic" but it is nothing less than amazing! i especially loved the salmon nigiri and the unagi (eel) nigiri. the fried rolls were yummy too. Heres a suggestion to people while they wait - check out corkscrew, the wine bar next door while you wait. we had a couple drinks there and time passed quickly! definitely the best sushi i have had in my 7 years here in portland.

    (5)

  • Devon D.

    For some things in life, you simply have to pay for quality. Saburo's has the cheapest and largest -- yet lowest quality -- fish I have ever been unfortunate enough to experience. My heart filled with terror as we walked in, spying rolls from which a single piece was the size of my own fist. Fat slabs of tasteless maguro mingled among incredibly slimy, overly sweet and tough ebi on my "chef's choice" sashimi plate. The rice is sweet. The miso is sweet. The ginger is sweet. The sauces are sweet. The sake is sweet. The IMITATION crab is sweet... I left having had a good time, but ultimately down on life. Sushi is one thing that should always make me happy, and that I will always crave, yet Saburo's has planted the seed of sushi fear into my life. I am ashamed of what Anthony Bourdain would say.

    (1)

  • Jennifer L.

    If you love fish, come here. If you're a sushi snob, well you love fish and you should still come here. If you're a sushi snob who doesn't really know anything about fish, go spend twice as much for half as much somewhere else. I love fish, and when my SF food-snob gf insisted we come here I knew she wouldn't steer me wrong. Despite having to put up with the puddles of dirty college students, what a time! I could not believe my eyes when the food came, and again when the bill came. I'm still not sure it wasn't an illusion...

    (5)

  • Duane C.

    Saburo's has been recommended to us repeatedly. People rave about the portions and decent prices. So we finally made it out there and weren't surprised by the wait which people warned us about so we walked down the street to a nearby pizza joint for a beer. Upon entering Saburo's you realize it's very tight quarters in there. They have the sushi bar and main dining area at the front and a second dining area in the back just past the kitchen. The place looks like a dive which is usually promising for an eatery, but we soon discovered otherwise. Yes the sushi is "huge" compared to what I'm used to but I always thought the idea behind sushi was that it was conveniently sized to be enjoyed in a single bite. I'm a big tako(octopus) fan so naturally I ordered the tako nigiri. What I got was several slabs of octopus dwarfing the rice beneath it. The tako was so big and thick that I couldn't bite through it and had to use two hands to help. Cooked octopus is already chewy to begin with so when you slice it as thick as they do...you almost need to sharpen your teeth to chew it. Not a pleasant experience. We also ordered a spider roll(fried soft shell crab in a maki roll), again HUGE. The roll had a very fishy taste to it and was rather salty. I know, "fishy taste you say...but it's sushi isn't it supposed to?" No it isn't. Good sushi you can't really taste the fish...it more or less melts in your mouth, but in the case of the spider roll I think they may have either snuck in some bonito flakes or fried the crab in oil that was already used to fry a fish. Either way...not what I typically look for in a good spider roll. In closing, don't take my word for it. Many people like this place, but if you're a sushi buff and appreciate a really great bite of sushi don't waste your time on the wait and go elsewhere. For the same amount of money we spent Mio Sushi in my opinion tastes much better. If you do go to Saburo's get there at least a half hour before they open like other people suggest...the wait really can be long.

    (1)

  • Kang T.

    Fresh fish, great service, and unbelievably large portions at pretty reasonable prices. That deserves 5 stars!!

    (5)

  • Sam B.

    If you have never had real sushi, which means anywhere else, you may like theirs. But there is no way Japanese own this place. The seaweed salad and agedashi tofu are pretty good, but the sushi/ roll options are too huge to be enjoyed by someone accustomed to the real deal. Can't eat in one mouthful, or even three. If you're just looking for an affordable place to fill your gut and a good vibe in Sellwood, though, you may want to drop in just to see unagi the size of your forearm. FOREARM, I said.

    (2)

  • jason k.

    Maybe im wrong but to me sushi is all about balance. The right size piece of fish balanced with the correct amount of rice. Rolls that are tight and sized to comfortable fit in your mouth. Maybe im wrong but thats how it seems to me sushi shouid be. The rolls here are freakishly large and even the most seasoned porn star could not fit one in there mouth. Dont get me wrong I apprciate the generosity. But I really cant ignore how out of balance everthing is.

    (2)

  • Kay G.

    I've read all the reviews and everyone mentions the huge rolls. Yes, they are huge, and they are quite good, but they are not what I come to Saburos for. I come there for, well, the SUSHI. The *unagi nigiri* is the best I've had in the Pacific Northwest. And I don't just mean for the price to size ratio. I mean its fabulous. You get an entire fillet of eel, 4" to 6" long, that is marinated perfectly and served still-warm on a regretably huge finger of rice. I use my sticks to break off the ends that hang over the rice, eat them, and then use my hands to eat it. I've treid all sorts of ways to eat the sushi with sticks and the portions are too large to get in one bite, so... I use my hands. Two of the unagi nigiri and half a roll and I am usually filled to bursting. The salmon and yellowtail are usually very, very fresh and the cuts are large. The creamy scallops are superb as well. Come early, or come late--if not, you will wait. The hours are 4:30 to 9:30.

    (5)

  • Danny N.

    This place sushi is sooo good and cheap!!! 5 people and our total came out to be close to $60 including tips. Since this is Oregon, there are no taxes. We had the big-o roll, salmon skin roll, philly roll, tempura roll, and salmon sashimi. The salmon skin roll here is not like any other salmon skin roll, its more like smoked salmon roll. All the rolls I've tried here are very delicious and big!!! Be warn! line is extremely long! I would go here again, but its in Oregon, and I live in California.

    (5)

  • mirrorpond a.

    Okay all, long line doesnt matter, no room doesnt matter, high price doesnt matter..just shut up and binge!!! MMM YUM

    (5)

  • Stephy S.

    There is sushi and then there is raw fish the size of Moby Dick on your plate. I generally prefer the first one, but if you are hungry and like your portions large and in charge, then i think you will dig it. Apparently this place is one of the best local sushi haunts in Portland, but I have to be honest and say that I wasn't blown away. The toro was totally stringy and pretty awful, the yellowtail was okay, the scallops alright, the salmon was really good and I normally hate salmon, but this one was fresh and tasty. We also tried the shrimp tempura, which was good, although I didn't like the sauce it came with. It was way too sweet. Their ponzu sauce was a bit off as well and tasted way too smokey. Maybe Portland just isn't a big sushi town or maybe I am totally spoiled by the abundance of amazing sushi places in LA, but yeah, it was good for a place we didn't have to wait more than 3 minutes to get seated at, but if we had had to wait like most of the people in line for an hour+, then I woulda been pretty bummed.

    (3)

  • Tim B.

    This place is reviewed plenty, but I went again recently so here goes: The sushi is just too big, and I can't handle that much bad sushi. I shouldn't have to eat a roll piece in three bites, not getting all of the ingredients all together in any of them. How about better fish and less of it? So why the extra star? The tempura was good, and the 1-hour wait led to the discovery of Kay's bar across the street, which was a surprisingly cool place to hang out.

    (2)

  • Brandon H.

    Best sushi I have had and biggest sushi I've eaten. These rolls are 5+ biters. The wait can be long sometimes, but entirely worth it!

    (5)

  • Crayon S.

    The only reason I would come here, is if you want the most sushi for your money, because the portions are gigantic. The quality is pretty decent. However, the service is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. Because they tend to be crowded with long lines, the staff will shoo you out of the restaurant when THEY think you are done. One time, they actually told us, "There are a lof of people waiting in line for a table, so if you can hurry up and finish, it will be appreciated" Now, if we were done eating, and we were just chatting, I can understand... However, THEY DIDN'T EVEN BRING ALL OF OUR FOOD YET! Maybe if they stopped harassing us, and actually brought our food, we could leave faster. Another time, they harassed us, and told us that we need to "hurry up and order, because we are making everyone wait". Now if we were undecided with what we wanted, and kept asking for more time, I can understand. However, we knew what we wanted, but nobody would take our order. Every time we tried to flag somebody down, they ignored us or said they'd be "right back". And I don't know how many times they banged our chairs as they walked thru. They even told me to not hang my jacket on my chair, becuase, "it was getting in our way", as they walked out of the kitchen...

    (1)

  • Bel L.

    No Japanese sushi restaurant beats Saburo's. My husband and I waited 2 hours last time in Portland to get a table to fill up on delicious and huge chunks of sushi and sashimi. I also really love their age-dashi tofu. My all-time favorites has to be their creamy scallop sushi and their special tuna/salmon/yellowtail roll. I have to come here every time I visit Portland!

    (5)

  • Alice R.

    SUPERSIZE ME SUSHI. If you want sushi maki rolls as big as your head, this is your place. For me, I pass. I'd rather opt for the sublime. I'd rather have a sliver of toro if the cut is perfection. I will say Saburo's is cheap. I'm glad I tried it. But would I brave another night in line for this place....probably not. If I have some out of town friends I'd like to have fun with, I may head back. But not likely.

    (4)

  • Rob A.

    This is one of the best Sushi Restaurants I've found in terms of quality, quantity and value for the money! Get there early and get your name on the list hanging just outside the front door! If you haven't had it before, expand your horizons and try the Hamachi collar. This is a tuna cut that has long been scrapped but has become one of the more sought after bits in finer sushi restaurants. A rich list of sushi, sashimi and the best Unagi I've ever had! Absolutely Delicious!!

    (5)

  • Tracy Y.

    I've been going to this place since 1993 and it hasn't changed much. Huge portions, overloaded patrons with to-go boxes filled with all the food they couldn't finish because, seriously, how could sushi fill you up?! Well, it does. Saburo's aims to please....your stomach, that is. Your body, however, is still freezing its ass off from waiting the hour in line outside. Well worth it as I'm in my second decade of visiting. Hopefully, you will too. Minus one star for the wait.

    (4)

  • Eric C.

    Wow you REALLY get your money's worth here, the portions are huge! So why only three stars you ask? Perhaps bigger is not better when you pick up a piece of sushi (you do know that is the 'right' way to eat sushi right?) and try to dip the fish portion in the soy sauce and it breaks in half because it is so heavy. Not the end of the world and the quality of the fish did not seem to be lacking and I do like to get a good bang for my buck. However I really do not eat large portions of food often and ordering two-three things here would fill be up. While there prices are not high I would prefer lower prices and smaller servings myself. Ok enough beating of that dead tuna. The service was very good. A friend and I shared a table with another couple (they were older and did not talk much so I hope they enjoyed hearing all of our dinner conversation). If you like a lot of room in a restaurant you might want to think twice about this place, but whatever, the more the merrier in my book. Worth going to just to see the food.

    (3)

  • Tom M.

    We were recommended to this SE Portland sushi establishment by a clothing shop owner in NE Portland, which is a good way of pointing out the widespread reputation of this joint. Most of what we experienced has already been said, but here are a few points: 1) Stay near the sign-in sheet. If you wander off and are not around when they call your name, they move rapidly down the list. I think they also may skip people who have hard names to pronounce, so sign up as "Bob" or "Pam". We got in after waiting only about 15 minutes on a Saturday night at 8pm. 2) Avoid the temptation to over-order. Saburo's sells well-endowed sushi, and we ended up leaving about an extra roll for the dish crew. 3) We found the service friendly and responsive. Yeah, they did bring the check early, but this is not a restaurant around which to luxuriously linger. Listen, if you are going to a restaurant with cattle-sized portions, cattle-esque ambiance, and prices cattle can afford, then expect to be treated like cattle. Extra bonus: the neighborhood has a ton of other interesting eateries, and as outsiders we were happy to stumble into this part of Portland for future dining.

    (4)

  • Harry H.

    This place is just plain nasty. We joke that "Saburo" means "cat food" in Japanese. The only thing it has going for it is that the sushi pieces are huge. But the fish is just gross, the rice is gummy and about the size of a baseball. Our waiter tossed our platter of food on the table, came back in a few minutes with the check, and then stopped by 3 more times to see if we were ready to pay. I just don't get what anyone sees in this place or why there is a line at the door every night.

    (1)

  • Alex M.

    If you're looking for great sushi at a great price with large portions in a laid back atmosphere, Saburo's is simply the best. If you're looking for dainty pieces of fish, an upscale decor with lots of frills and hand-holding, go somewhere else. But real sushi lovers flock here in droves for a reason: great value for money and an unpretentious attitude toward one of the most pretentious foods in America.

    (5)

  • Edward N.

    The people who are hating on this place are out of their god damned stuck up minds. This place is WONDERFUL, but let me address some quirks. 1) the wait - No matter when you show up, there will be anywhere from 5 to 15 parties ahead of you. The UP SIDE - the turnover is unbelievably FAST. If you can kill 30-40 minutes at Kay's Lounge across the street, Saburo's can turn over 15 tables easily. 2) the portion size - it's huge and it's DELICIOUS! For once in your lifetime, you can eat well prepared sashimi and nigiri at very affordable prices. If it was bad fish making people sick, why would there be a wait every day of the week with tons of repeat customers? Don't be a sissy. Shut up and eat your fish. 3) the service - It will be rather curt service. This is not a swanky sushi place with trendy decor and way overpriced drinks. They're not gonna coddle you and make you feel welcome to set up shop for 2 hours. BUT that's why you don't have to worry about tables ahead of you. They're quick and efficient. What more do you want?

    (4)

  • Paul L.

    the name for this place should be called "costco of sushi". fish is fresh!!! price is very reasonable!!!

    (4)

  • Kent X.

    This place is one of my favorite sushi spots in Portland (#1 IMO). I cannot call my self a sushi connoisseur but I can sure call this place delicious. This sushi tastes absolutely wonderful. The portions are off the charts. The size of a Saburo California roll is the size of a small woman's fist, no joke. As many people have mentioned, It is usually wise to arrive there about 15 minutes before 5:00PM. The line can quickly become large, and the wait is can be annoying. As long as you get on the sign up list you should be fine. I usually get on the list and go to Starbucks across the street. Do yourself a favor and visit Saburo's for some great sushi. ENJOY

    (5)

  • William H.

    The biggest sushi and rolls I've seen. A few selections filled an entire plate. There was a line out the door and even though they closed at 10pm they took our name and food order so that once a table opened up we sat down to our food which was a nice surprise. Very friendly wait staff.

    (4)

  • Chad M.

    Good food. Great prices.

    (4)

  • Beth B.

    Go. It's good for you to have to wait for something in life. You can fiddle on your iphone while you wait in line, thus satisfying your need for instant gratification. Once you get it in, then you can race to get your order in. Salmon belly is a must. It melts in your mouth and there are not too many foods you can truly say that about. (Never understood the "melt in your mouth, not in your hands slogan..they always melt in your hands!) I digress. Order more than you think you will ever eat, so you can take some home to enjoy for a 1am snack.

    (4)

  • Sherry Y.

    Does great sushi exist in Portland? If it does then I have yet to find it. But Saburo is a decent substitute. It's a nice little neighborhood place. The wait is so long (an hour, no joke). I like that they have hamachi kama and agi dashi. The wait staff is usually super friendly, however the Asian woman I had gave us attitude when I asked that she bring me the rice that I had ordered and my SO asked for more ginger when I was there last week. This time around on Friday, she asked us if we were ready to order (we had already been sitting there for 10 minutes and had someone else take our order). Later she took the empty plates of the table next to us and left ours there, but that's ok, someone else took them. Maybe she hates bi-racial couples because everyone else there is super nice and helpful. The 'sushi' is enormous (twice the size of other places). I always leave stuffed for a really reasonable price. The wait is so long and it's so far away, but otherwise it'd be the place to be.

    (4)

  • T. N.

    I really love this place! Too bad the line up is so long and is far from where I live but the wait is worth it. The first time we came here, we were blown away by the portions of our sushi. We knew ahead of time that it was going to be big but it was still shocking! The fishs tastes very fresh and I love their Spider Roll. Their spicy tuna roll is yummy too. I want to go there tomorrow in fact but I don't know what the hubby will say...I've been craving for sushi almost everyday.

    (5)

  • Nobu B.

    I've eaten at many Sushi places. Saburos still remains at the top of the list of best ever. The fish isn't always the best. But who cares? It is huge portions for very cheap. The yellow tail is always melt in the mouth fresh, and the tempura is spiced wonderfully. I also recommend the striped bass, the miso, and the cucumber salad. Yes, the wait can be indecent for a Portland joint (longest I've waited for a table was about an hour). There are also the times when I've driven by and had to get food there because I noticed there was no line. It depends on the day and the time. Also on other people's patience. The more people decide that the wait isn't worth it, the closer I get to eating time. I give it 5 stars because if I wanted good portions with super fresh fish every time for cheap and no waiting in line, well, I'd make my own sushi at home.

    (5)

  • Ivan M.

    Saburos doesn't have the best or most authentic sushi in Portland by any stretch, but considering the size of the portions they give you, as well as their awesome prices, they easily merit a 5 star review. I would recommend the yellow tail nigiri, the seaweed salad and the spider roll for those that have never been to Saburo's before.

    (5)

  • Rob G.

    My favorite sushi restaurant. No other place comes close.

    (5)

  • Lapis E.

    The King Kong of sushi!" It wouldn't be getting so many reviews if people weren't going. Yes, the waiting line for a table is ridiculous and it's freakin cold (during the winter eves) because it's outside. Bring a snack, jacket and umbrella for the inevitable wait or like others say, go for a walk and have a beer up the street in the pub. Just don't forget to get your name on the list! After an hour or so you'll be happily seated at your table gawking at your neighbor's plate of sushi. Make sure to order all that you will need during your waiter's first trip. After that if you want more sushi it will be hell trying to yield your waiter and if you get it...another long wait. I love all of the huge pieces of fish. I've never seen rolls or slabs of fish bigger than here. And I think it tastes great too! It might not be the highest grade of fish though it's still sashimi/sushi grade which means it's edible and tasty enough to satisfy a huge sushi fan like me. Look around you before ordering so that you know how much to order. Get there early, right when they open if you don't want to wait too long. Weekends are especially busy.

    (5)

  • Nancy K.

    This is my least favorite sushi place so far that I've been to in the greater Portland area. A few reasons are because the long wait and they pack you in there like sardines. But the main reason I avoid this place like the plague is that I can't stand that they serve gigantic rolls. When I have sushi - I like to be able to get a variety. At Saburo's I can only order about 3 rolls because they are so enormous. This is one of the few cases where bigger IS NOT better.

    (2)

  • Teri T.

    I LUV SABURO's... I think it is one of the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. I luv the size of the rolls..Yes its big, but its well worth it and I don't think they stuff it all with rice. I luv their tuna sashimi..it is so fresh here. I would like to thank this restaurant for their fresh fish. I nevered liked sashimi before, until I came here. Oh and Thanks to my brother and his wife as well. They were the ones who took me here. And every time I am in Portland visiting...I have to come to Saburo's for the rolls and their sashimi. Also you can only order once, so order big and go all out. I'm from California and I say hands down to the size of the rolls compare to having a quarter size rolls back in Cali. And come early and wait...cause there's always a line wrapped around. So yes, this one is yummyyyy in my tummmmyyyy.

    (5)

  • Conor T.

    This place has, at best, mundane fish. The upside is that it has a LOT of it, and the serving sizes are relatively huge. There's generally a wait, which for me is bizarre because quantity alone isn't worth waiting for. If the quality's lacking (and it is definitely lacking here), why wait?

    (1)

  • Prince of P.

    TWO WORDS....Not good, over rated, long wait, don't go...

    (2)

  • Kenny H.

    I find it important to respond to people claiming this place is ANYTHING like Todai. NO, it is not. Todai is nasty. Todai does not even come close to tasting as good... nor do they have rolls with such great flavor, and the value (as mentioned clearly in most every review) is MUCH better too boot. If you like less rice in your roles (counting the "Boo Hoo the Sushi is just too BIG crowd...wah wah wah")...then try the basic sushi. I had Hamachi twice now (usually I skip simple sushi orders because the roles fill me up so much)... and it has absolutely melted in my mouth. Every bit as good as many of those places people have raved to me about in all their presentation and artistic glory that provide those "itsy bitsy" pieces of sushi for more money and I spend 1/4 of my pay check on to actually "get full". Maybe it has that Super Size Me aspect...but when I go to the fancy shmancy places that put a sliver of pickled radish and teeny tiny slivers of cucumber with some fresh tuna and call that a "roll"...I actually feel like I am not being totally ripped off after a visit to Saburo. I sense some positive energy coming the way of the owners for providing sushi at a reasonable price and quantity that makes "going out to sushi" more frequent and sustainable for real average income people to do. Nope...even after 2 years and an average of 1 visit a month...Saburo is still KING!!!

    (5)

  • Joanne L.

    I think this is totally worth the 45-60 min wait. The sushi pieces are absolutely huge and and unagi pieces are as big as your hands. My absolute favorite is the tuna. It just literally melted in your mouth. My husband and I love eating soft-shell crab and have eaten it at many different sushi restaurants. I actually wouldn't recommend ordering it since it wasn't anything special. I would say just stick to the nigiri. I'm actually from Boston, MA and was there for a wedding. I would totally visit again just to go to Saburo's again. YUM!

    (4)

  • Donn C.

    This is like the Walmart of Sushi places. If you're a big fan of Olive Garden and Outback this is the place for you. They serve massive pieces of sushi with inferior quality fish at a very reasonable price.

    (1)

  • Kevin C.

    There was a huge hype on this restaurant when I first moved into Portland so I finally decided to check it out. Here's why I thought it's only worthy of 3 stars. 1. wait was 1hr 45 min (yes, expect that if you are going during peak hrs, and consider yourself lucky if you can find a butt rest. 2. slow service 3. gigantic portions 4. reasonable pricing 5. too much hype which set my expectation on quality too high hence food didn't taste as good. Or maybe it tasted okay since I was starving outside for an hour

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    The sushis are ok. As other reviews said, they serve really really XXL sushi. Worth to go if never been there. Waiting time is twice as long as the eating time. Mine is 2 hours.

    (3)

  • Sarah Y.

    my boyfriend loves to make me wait for ever in line to eat at this place. I've decided it's because he's a pig. the rolls ARE big, weirdly big. i just don't understand what all the fuss is about. you wait in line, and then wait some more, and then.....mediocre sushi that you could have bought at fredmeyer and been able to eat without the new people in line staring you down. i don't eat fish, so i always get the veggie rolls. I hope that's why I'm not understanding the greatness of this place. i will say i like the frenzied atmosphere, and how cozy and tucked in all the people pigging out are. fun for people watching and eavesdropping on conversations you were not invited into.........*_*

    (2)

  • chris m.

    not the best sushi i've ever had, but really far from the worst. aside from queasiness-inducing buffets (don't eat old fish, folks), i have never emerged fuller from a sushi meal. i am a big eater and a frequent over-orderer, and i bask in the glory that is becoming overstuffed on sushi. i am the founder and sole member of a religion that believes that, much like the beer you left undrunk, the sushi you leave uneaten will be a toll to pay before entering heaven--you must eat all of this abandoned artfood, and quaff all of this now-stale fermented goodness before entering the pearly gates. so it is with great sadness that i leave behind any scraps at a sushimeal. especially one that i am paying for instead of making myself. saburo's is the second time in my life i have been forced to leave a plate unemptied, and i have eaten well over 200 sushi meals in my days. the ridiculous thing is that the meal that my date and i ordered clocked in at under $50 total, including a beer. W. T. F.! i can typically eat about $80 of sushi on my own. this fish was pretty good, and the serving size phenomenal, and the service zippy. the only reason i can't give it top ranks is that better fish is findable (even at uwajimaya). when the fish melts in your mouth, the taste buds dance, and the texture is reminiscent of the memory of the yielding flesh of a lady, and you are at one with the universe...that, my friends, is a 5.

    (4)

  • Will W.

    I live in Seattle, WA and drive at least once a month to Portland just to grab some sushi from Saburo. Best way is to come on the weekdays, because it's almost impossible to get a table on the weekends. The price is almost the same as SushiLand or Blue C Sushi, but the portion is wayyyyy bigger and taste much better. I love their Unagi, Salmon, and the Crab sushi. For the appetizer, make sure you order the deep-fried tofu called "Age-Dashi Tofu"! That's all I gotta say, and I'll be back there again in a week :)

    (5)

  • Evan H.

    Saburo's is in the neighborhood where I grew up and I miss it dearly. It's popular for a reason--the portions here are huge and the atmosphere is fun and tends to be busy. It isn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty close. I recommend eating here if you want to see an old Portland favorite and have a surefire decent meal. So, maybe this review is a bit nostalgic, but this place is dear to my heart and to all the haters who don't want to wait in line... Well, I wish you wouldn't. Why not eat somewhere else with no line? Like Mike's Drive-In or Burgerville, which are also pretty awesome?

    (4)

  • Mish N.

    Saburos has been a fixture in Sellwood for years. The food quality is usually better than average, but don't come here expecting service and atmosphere. Also, the huge portions--while fun--don't exactly allow you to enjoy sushi as it's meant to be enjoyed. Their nori (seaweed) has never been crisp, by the way. Until a new sushi restaurant opened in the area earlier this year, we grudgingly submitted to the long lines, minimal but courteous service (hey, I get the one-order-only, but can I get a refill on my water please? Or another beer?) but our last visit--last week--was awful. Food quality had declined, there were tiny flies everywhere, server was an a** (complianing that the next table didn't leave a tip, and for good reason) and a horrendous wait for our food. Lines are much shorter these days, and the restaurant wasn't all that crowded...Saburo's needs to kick it up a notch, since they have competition with Mio Sushi being only a few blocks away on Tacoma Boulevard.

    (3)

  • Sun P.

    I've been to Saburo's multiple times. The last time we were there, we were waiting for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Yes, I was not a big fan of waiting. Luckily, there were couple small restaurants/cafe around the area to go while we were waiting. Unagi and creamy scallop were my top two choices. The price was very reasonable and cheap per se, considering that they size of the sushi was really huge. Make sure to go there with an empty stomach!

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    great place to eat, sushi is huge and worth the price!

    (4)

  • Irma P.

    I could barely lift the sushis with my chopsticks. They're huge and incredibly heavy!! Totally worth the 45 min wait

    (4)

  • Chrissy S.

    Sooo I have honestly only had sushi at two places since I moved here in August. This is the second one, based on glowing recommendations by a few people. The result? My belly was stuffed with deliciousness as it should be. :) The rolls are massive. no no no. I don't think you understand. MASSIVE. Typically, I don't like it when I have to try to cram a huge piece of sushi in my face. You get that giant sushi cheek...ya know what I'm talkin' about? Either that or you have to dismantle it and it becomes like a little sushi salad. Yeah. This time I really didn't care. And you won't either. The cuts of fish are so fresh, and for the price, which is a huge draw, you can't beat it with a stick. Expect to be sitting in a row right next to people you've never met. Who cares! In my experience the people next to me were in a big group like I was. They had just finished up eating while we were ordering, so they had a ton of leftover stuff. Not only did they help us choose what to order, they let us eat some of theirs! Rockin! So here's the only thing. I have been told, though I do not know for a fact, that the chef has been labeled the Sushi Nazi. I don't know this person, so i cannot vouch for that. But according to my friend, you can only order once at this place, and that is in the very beginning, so you should always over order in case you aren't full, which seems unlikely. Whatever just go and nosh! You will lurve it! Just in case that littler rumor is true, play by the rules or No Sushi For You! :)

    (4)

  • Eva J.

    A short bus ride to Bybee? Heh. I wasn't excited about the bus drive but from work it was only like 10 minutes. Bus 70 let me off right next to Saburo's. I show up and I put my name on the list and my date shows up just as our table becomes ready which was only like a 10 minute wait. This small place was packed. I mean jam packed. People were still lining up and signing up. OK. I had expected that from previous friends remarks. OK, I was warned that the servings were gargantuan. Yes they were. We ordered flying fish roe w a quail egg ( i could be wrong about what kind of egg), eel, yellow tail, tuna, and the largest salmon skin roll I've ever seen. This salmon skin roll was bigger than my hand. Also the salmon skin roll was so delicious, not salty but smokey and sweet. I would go stand in line again just for that. The waitress forgot about the refill on our water like we asked but besides that everything was perfect. Looking around too was just amazing. Giant plates with giant portions, it was very American but with chopsticks. Although these portions are so large it's hard to stuff a whole piece in your mouth. I'll be back again and again!

    (4)

  • Angel C.

    best sushi ever!!! i only gave 4 starts because they only open 4 hours a day. ...but highly recomand it.

    (4)

  • Chris E.

    Any sushi is good if you drink enough sake while waiting

    (3)

  • Kate S.

    Not so good, but cheap. So, for the prices, I'll give it three stars. The roll slices are huge, as is the nigiri. But it's all pretty mediocre in quality. So go here if you're hungry and don't want to spend a lot. Not worth waiting in line, though, so if you are that hungry and there is a line just get a burrito or something.

    (3)

  • Linh D.

    People rave about this place and being new, we had to try. I know why this place always has a wait...the price and portion! The sushi is huge! I know the sushi here has been Americanized but come on - does it have to be supersize? Big does not make better. And no, the sushi here is not that great.

    (2)

  • Justin D.

    every time i go to portland, i make it absolutely necessary to stop by favorite place... saburo's!!! last time when i was on crunch time coming from seattle to san francisco, i threw the biggest fit to my girlfriend because she wouldnt pull over to get saburo's.. it's that serious big line, but even bigger sushi!! so worth the wait. so worth the 700 mile drive. so worth every penny. i'll see you soon saburo's!!!

    (5)

  • Max P.

    This is a great place to go if you love sushi! I have been going here for years, and I would come more often if I didn't live so far away. The bad part about this place is the wait because it is always so pack. I love the spider rolls and the tempera udon. The sushi they serve here seem like they are on steriods, they are huge! must try! Try and go before the dinner rush, probably right when they open for dinner or after 8ish, so the wait wont be so long.

    (5)

  • psychedelichantique m.

    Bigger sushi portion than the usual. Good deal, good taste :)

    (4)

  • Mel E.

    Me gusta sushi grande. Sushi grande esta aqui en Saburo's. Donde estan Ana Alicia y Esteban? Oh crap, I need to stop. Before coming to Saburo's, I thought the pieces of fish on nigiri should be about two times the size of my pinky. At Saburo's, those pieces are three times those dimensions. It seemed like it was 8 inches of a ruler. Yes, that wide. I'm a size queen. HAHAHAHA. Okey doke, moving right along. The one thing I was told about this place is that you can only order once, so make sure you get in everything you want. Needless to say, we ordered way to much food for three people and ended up taking home three boxes of food. I loved the spider roll with fried soft shell crab. The unagi, of course, was perfecto with those hunka chunka pieces of eel on top. One thing not to miss out on is the spicy tuna salad which tingles your tastebuds with just enough spice. Seriously, I wanted to take my salad plate, tip it and pour that damn good dressing into a plastic baggie, but I refrained...plus I didn't bring a plastic baggie. I think I've died and gone to sushi heaven. And for the non-converted, there's more room up here.

    (5)

  • David M.

    if you are in the mod for giant rolls or giant pieces then this is your place. It is affordable so it fills a need. The lines are too much. However I always leave full. At least for a little while...

    (4)

  • Leon C.

    This is a great place if not the best place to get sushi in Portland, OR. Everytime I was here, my friends and I eat like kings. The sushi are fresh and rolls are good size! It's a family business run by husband and wife. They work hard and are nice to get know. The place is not too big and it sooo popular the wait is long. But if you get there early enough you should have no problems.

    (5)

  • Brenna S.

    Saburo's is good... just not great. Everybody talks about how much they love this place because the rolls are huge. Indeed, the portions are quite large, but more rice does not mean more taste. The restaurant is tiny and there is always a wait, so I wouldn't recommend giving it more than 15 minutes before moving on to somewhere more worth your while.

    (3)

  • Randy D.

    well, the sushi here is affordable and they give you large pieces. but you get what you pay for. the consistency and freshness make this place dicey at best. i'd rather spend a lil extra and get some quality....

    (2)

  • Dan K.

    This sushi is good. At first glance, prices seem to be the same as anywhere else. But the portions are humongous, so it's a good value. The unagi pieces are 6 inches long, which is simultaneously heavenly and sort-of disgusting. The rolls aren't as good because the high rice-to-insides ratio throws off the flavor. The fish tastes fresher than any other sushi place in this general price range. Be conservative in how much you order because it's a lot of food!

    (4)

  • Catherine D.

    It's been a while since I've been here and I noticed some things have changed and yet some are still the same. The long wait time is still the same, but it's a happy surprise to see that their service has improved. I no longer need to portion how much water / tea that I drink over time in fear of never ever see the waiter / waitresses passing by to refill the water until the end when they show us the bill. I still think the agedashi dofu here is the best in comparison with the other Japanese restaurants around Portland area, and it's still the only place that I know where you can find giant sushi!! The Unagi and the salmon belly is a must order every time I go. Salmon skin salad.. YUMM!!! The hawaiian roll wasn't as fresh as I recalled, but maybe it's a miss for this time. One thing for sure, my out of town friends always ask me to take them here when they come and visit - and that's the time when I wish that they open the restaurant closer to my place.

    (4)

  • milo m.

    The only things Saburo's has going for it are price and portion size. The fish is not quality and the ginormous pieces can't fit in your mouth (I'm 6' 1", and a ravenous eater). The wait is ridiculous. If you know what good sushi is, skip it. If you're on a budget and looking for quantity, dig in. Starter hack sushi, wish there was something good in the hood. Technically i'd give it 2 stars, but feel the need to counterbalance the masses.

    (1)

  • justin y.

    Cheap, fresh, and big. Everything I want in a sushi joint. And in some strange, masochistic way, the long wait enhances the allure of the experience. Try Tuesdays for shorter lines.

    (5)

  • Margie N.

    This place is amazing... I'd come here every day if I lived closer [I'm only a state away, that's not so bad, right?]. The wait is ridiculous and the restaurant is tiny, but the portions are HUGE and the fish is pretty freaking fresh. And its cheap. So the pros clearly outweigh the cons. The service is fine, you just have to get someone's attention. Thank god the food didn't take very long, or I would have had to start snatching things off my neighbor's table [lord knows their food was close enough, it was pretty much a communal table!]. I would definitely recommend the spicy tuna over green salad, or at least some kind of appetizer to hold you over till the sushi's done. And can they please expand?! I'm not waiting in that line again.

    (4)

  • Lindsay Z.

    Long waits, cheap sushi, and enormous portions. Not exactly what I'm looking for when I want a sushi dinner. If you're not there at 4:30, expect to wait a LONG time for a table, especially on weekends. The portions are so huge that you can only really order one or two rolls before you're full. I guess this place is good if you want americanized japanese food at dirt cheap prices (which to me seems a bit sketchy when eating raw fish).

    (2)

  • Curtis L.

    did not live up to the hype... we came expecting to be wowed and wowed we were not. we expected more since we waited 45 minutes to be seated. when you arrive among the throng of people waiting, you need to sign in on the clip board on the wall next to the door. It was Sunday evening so I did not expect the wait. We went for a walk around the neighborhood which was nice. Upon our return, the list had not gotten smaller but we were getting closer. After being called and told which table number to go to, we were given a menu to mark our order on. I was was told by my fiance that from the reviews she read, we only get to order once. They have a pretty expansive menu. We ended up decided on a real crab california roll, a sunset roll and a order tempura. While waiting for the food to arrive, i notice this place as a no frills, get orders in and out type place. i also noticed that they served their soda pop out of 2 liter bottles rather than a fountain. I thought that was a little different. We received the tempura first which was hot and you got about 8 pieces. It was light and there nothing fancy about it. a little while later, the sushi arrived. Pretty good in size and tasted just okay. It did taste fresh but nothing to wow me. The price was reasonable. I think the hype of the place drove my expectations up. So expect a good size meal for the price but nothing exceptional. I don't believe it is worth the 45 minute wait so unfortunately, I don't think I will return on any future visits to Portland.

    (3)

  • Alice C.

    Whenever I am in Portland, this is the one place that I absolutely must go pay my respects. The sushi here is so tasty and each piece twice the size of what other places serve. The price is definitely very reasonable for the quantity and quality. If I could take off 1/2 a star, I would for the intolerably long lines (I once waited 1.5 hours just to get in!) and the quality of service. The service isn't bad, it's just slow and unattentive.

    (5)

  • Masha J.

    my favorite sushi joint in portland! always fresh food, always excellent! i don't mind waiting, its worth it.

    (5)

  • Vanessa G.

    For my first sushi experience in this town I was very impressed with the size of the portions at Saburo's. But that was about all I was impressed by. It is, however, enough to sustain a three star rating because the quality was also good enough. So there is a small mathematical equation going on in my head about the amount of food you get for your money divided by quality and wait time or some other such nonsense. I went with a group of four and we ordered several pieces of nigiri including, eel, salmon, yellowtail, tuna and mackeral. We also ordered a cucumber roll, spicy tuna roll, and a sunset roll. Also ordered, two large beers and two large sakes. And then we all went to town, stuffing ourselves silly. After we stuffed and we stuffed and we stuffed, we still went home with two boxes of leftovers. Overall I was happy with my experience here, despite the hour long wait and less than charming atmosphere. I do find it a little unsettling to take sushi home because it doesn't seem to fare all that well as leftovers. And even though it is a deal to get such unbelievably big portions, I can't help but better enjoy the quaintness of being able to put an entire piece of sushi in my mouth and taste all of the elements of a well constructed roll.

    (3)

  • J C.

    This is a favorite haunt for my friends and I. They still draw a crowd. Yes the wait is obscene...over an hour easily. Yes, they continue to serve steak size pieces of raw fish. You will get your money's worth here. Don't expect great service. They can be nice but when its really crowded, they are ready to move you on out when you are done. To go is not always available. Reservations? You wish! You need to send someone there to sign on the list to get attention.

    (4)

  • E F.

    everything that needs to be said about saburo's has been done so in previous reviews. the less than stellar reviews say that this place's sushi isnt as intricate and delicate as sushi should be and that its too big. the 5 star reviews say that the fish is fresh and the portions are big. i agree that theres definitely better "crafted" sushi out there but for the price and the sizes of their sushi, this place definitely earns a 5 star IMHO. i would definitely go back. in fact i plan on going again on saturday even though i just had saburo's for the first time last night.

    (5)

  • rice r.

    Not bad sushi for this price. The quality = the price that you paid for. No surprise..if you are a real sushi lover, you might be a little disappointed. I wouldn't go there again as the wait time is just ridiculously long.

    (3)

  • katie g.

    So I'm a vegetarian. But that doesn't mean that I don't LOVE sushi. I always hear a lot of hype about this place. My boyfriend and I went on Saturday ready to brave the long waits and be rewarded with delicious sushi. The wait wasn't as long as I expected (about 45 min) and the service was pretty fast. I ordered an avocado roll, a cucumber roll and the veggi roll. My boyfriend ordered some Tuna sashimi and two rolls. When our food came, I was astounded. The rolls were the size of large cucumbers. The sashimi was several inches thick. There was no way to put a single piece of the sushi in my mouth....and i have a big mouth. So we proceeded to try and stuff the pieces in our mouth. There was rice and fish and avocado falling everywhere. Thank god we weren't on a first date. My boyfriend said that the fish was decent, although the BBQ eel was dry and really fishy. Overall, it was okay. Don't go here when you want to impress someone with your delicate eating skills. Don't order more than two rolls, you won't finish them. And when you are ready for more authentic sushi, go to Mio's.

    (2)

  • Eric H.

    OH. MY. GAHH. When we arrived, there was a line waiting for the doors to open. Sadly, my girlfriend and I were one group late and was the first group on the wait list. The restaurant is pretty small, but the wait is totally worth it. After being sat the waitress kept sweating us to order.. but even with the small restaurant and the heckling of the waitress, the size and taste of the food TOTALLY negates EVERYTHING else. I have been to quite a few sushi places, and this place is right up there with freshness and taste. MUST go back. Very excited.

    (5)

  • Dawnabelle R.

    I've never seen sushi so big! Came here for dinner. There was a crowd outside so we just wrote our name on the list, walked around the area and grabbed a drink for about 30 mins and we were called in as soon as we got back. The people there are nice. We got our order pretty quickly considering the amount of people dining there. This wasn't the most amazing sushi, but each piece is huge! Our spicy tuna hand rolls looked like mini burritos! The cuts of fish on the sushi were thick and large. We also ordered the albacore sushi, yellowtail sushi, and sunset roll. The fish is fresh and delicious and with the large portions, dining here is definitely a great value!

    (5)

  • G S.

    From the spicy tuna salad to the biggest, freshest offering of sushi that we ever experienced, this restaurant is a wonder! We love it every time we go and it's ALWAYS worth the wait. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The food is amazing!

    (5)

  • Alex L.

    This place is epic. I like to come here on special occasions, and in my opinion it's a must-have experience for out-of-towners. Once you get over the long wait at the door, you're in for a treat. You only get one shot at ordering, so make it count. I always go straight for nigiri at Saburo's because it's so damn good. I recommend salmon, yellowtail, and tuna. The orders are beyond generous, about twice the size of a normal order. If you're not careful, you can easily order too much. One time my family and I watched in amusement the old couple at the next table, who received three banquet-size platters piled high with sushi as they sat in stunned silence. Amateurs. The fish is always fresh and absolutely delicious, just the way sushi should be. The bento boxes, sushi rolls, and noodles are tasty as well, but why waste your stomach space? Saburo's doesn't take reservations, but if they did you'd probably have to make one a week in advance. My recommendation? Have one person in your party go ahead and mark your group down, that way everyone else can be seated quickly when they arrive. Go, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Annie T.

    Previous review--My only complaint is is the wait. Remember your eyes are bigger than your stomach at this place, and oh staring at the next tables food is encouraged here. ;) Latest review-- I guess it's time for an updated review since my last one was in 2009.. Still got the same complaints, only this time there's a wine bar next door to help with that. Taking a star away from my previous review though sadly after all these years because I've discovered that even though your nigiri here is literally the size of a small 2 ounce fillet, it's just missing something...

    (3)

  • Chris N.

    Giant sushi!! Couple of friends and I made a trip to Portland for a day and decided to come here for dinner before heading home. Heard good reviews about this place so we went and tried it. We were starving and looking at the menu, we wanted everything but also heard the sushi the make is really big so we ordered a decent amount thinking we would be okay. Boy were we full after our dinner. Good thing we didn't order too much food! I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Barry R.

    We've been eating Sushi here for 15 years. A family tradition!

    (5)

  • Alex C.

    BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE BILL AND READ CLOSELY. People who do not read their bill carefully might end up paying 30+% gratuity because of their unclear policies. Saburo's was pretty good. I've been going to this sushi shop for a long time now and I have to say that it's really disappointing to see what Saburo's has transformed into in the last year or so. The portions are extremely large and very fulfilling. However, they used to be bigger and the prices have gone up while the actual size of the fish has gone down. Furthermore, when we went in yesterday, they charged a 15% gratuity to our bill - for a party of 3 people who had spent $60. Why? When we asked, the waitress (not the one who had made the "mistake" because she probably didn't want to hear us escalate the issue with her) explained that it was charged automatically for a party of 4 or a party that spends over $100. Fine, but in this case it was a mistake and when we pushed further of why this mistake was made, the explanation we got was "it depends on your server". Choosing how much I tip my server is purely my discretion and should not be inbuilt into my total. No server should automatically add the gratuity into the total unless the party is large enough or they spent enough money. Be careful when you go here - they sometimes charge 15% gratuity into the total amount already and then some people might add more gratuity if they don't realize this. I'm not sure if this has happened before, but it's basically picking on the people who don't read carefully and is, in essence, a gimmick. For the usual service I receive there, 15% is already generous on my part. I shouldn't be charged 15% into the bill and then have the option of adding more. This unclear, unfair practice is definitely enough to keep me away from here. I'd rather do business with honest restaurants who charge their customers for what they ordered and do not automatically charge tip into the total as well.

    (2)

  • Tim F.

    Best bang for the buck sushi place in pdx. The fish is always fresh and you get plenty of it. The spicy maguro salad is my favorite. People hate on the lines and the service. But if you love fish. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Leslie O.

    I'm not sure why EVERYONE in Portland thinks this place is amazing. In my option this place is okay at best. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the fish is good however, having to wait 2 freaking hours to get seated in itself is RIDICULOUS! That and the price for the sushi is EXPENSIVE. Do not come here if you are not willing to dig deep into your pocket book. The sushi pieces are on steroids as they are not you're typical/authentic sushi place. The salmon slices are as thick as steak and require you to try and gnaw off a chewable piece while trying not to destroy the rice underneath it. Last I checked sushi were supposed to be bite size. This place is not that.... The waitress that works there did a piss pour job and looked like she hating working there. Don't expect good service there from her. She tacked on a 15% gratuity for my party of 2. Please read the fine print when paying as you could be tipping on top of what she has already charged you.

    (2)

  • Elaine R.

    I've been going to this place a lot,,,I love their sushi but only thing I hate about this place is LONG line,,,always long!!! even when I go there on week days still a line but its worth the wait tho.

    (4)

  • Mr B.

    I really enjoy this place. It is the best place in Portland in my Opinion. The portions are incredible, the flavors are equally incredible. And the wait for your order is relatively quick. Ok, about the Wait Time to get in. Get it in to your head that it's an hour at every time you visit whether you get there and hour ahead like me before it opens, or after they've already been open. I personally am patient and I would let my friends go and do their thing while I would wait in line an hour ahead of time and be near the first in line for when they open. When it got to be near the time for opening. I would call m friends to make sure they were there at the time they open. And when you get in, have your order ready in your head from looking at the menu on the phone to put in quickly so you can get your order first. If you want more later. Put it in after you get your food at the table. Eat here, you will not be disappointed unless you don't by now understand how much this place is a favorite spot by many, many, Many a good folk and want a quick entrance.

    (5)

  • Selena P.

    My sister raved about this place and she goes there everytime she visits Portland. With me being a sushi lover, it was only natural that I would try this place out. Now if you've never been there, there is always a line, especially before they open. When the bf and I got there (15 minutes before it opened) there was a line wrapped around the corner and down the side of the building. A daunting wait for a tiny place such as this! As the doors opened and people flooded the restaurant we were astonished to find out that we were the second to last table filled before you had to wait for a table to open up. SWEET! We sat down and surveyed the menu. The Big-O roll, yakitori, the Hawaiian Roll, California roll (with real crab!), 2 orders of fresh salmon nigiri and one order of unagi. Oh. My. God!!!! Not only was everything fresh...it was HUGE!!!! One of the unagi was almost as long as my chopstick!! Out of this world size of cut! The portion sizes are amazing deals for the price, I would expect twice the price for what we got and the quality was great as well. If you love sushi and are looking for a great meal that is easy on the pocketbook, then this is your place!

    (5)

  • Joshua C.

    While most think the "Civil War" takes place in Eugene or Corvallis there's another going on right here. Saburo's is a yelp ratings battleground that like most war's has at least two distinctly disparate sides. The Lover's argue that it's worth the wait. That the rolls are HUGE, the cuts of fish are HUGE, the platters are HUGE. They love that it's cheap. They claim the fish there is fresh, and that the sushi is the best. They fire off five and four stars like they're going out of style. The Hater's argue that it's not worth the wait. That the rolls are HUGE, the cuts of fish are HUGE, the platters are HUGE. They like that it's cheap. They claim the fish there isn't fresh, and that the sushi is the worst. They fire off barrages of one and two stars like Martha Stewart handing out criticism. So having read all this I met up here for dinner with some friends and will now add my generally less than humble opinion to the war. Sixteen years ago I didn't like sushi so would have hated it regardless. Fifteen to Eleven years ago I would have thought as the Lover's do. At the time I thought great sushi was paper thin slices of fish on cold rice served on a conveyor belt. Saburo's would have been a revelation. Ten year's ago I happened to stop in at Sushi Masa (a tiny little place in Honolulu yelp.com/biz/sushi-masa-… ) and my concept of good sushi (perhaps even my life) was forever changed. This is when I became a Hamachi addict (I'd attend HA meetings if such a group existed). This is when I went from mild mannered Joshua C to Super Sushi Snob. I've spent the last decade eating and studying great sushi and I'll be honest with you....I'm with the Hater's....this ain't it. I knew from the reviews and pictures what side I'd land in, but I'm open to giving places a try and the people we were meeting were cool. Sushi is about balance, subtlety, freshness, and perfection. None of which can be found here. While most people focus on the fish, great sushi begins with great rice. Here the rice was under seasoned (read bland) and overcooked (mushy texture). The rolls and nigiri were sloppily formed, so much so that despite their mushiness were they were still falling apart. Additionally there was just too much rice, I ended up leaving about half of it on my plate. Logically (and definitely) economically you'd think getting bigger slices of fish would be a good thing. In the world of great sushi, it's not. Nigiri should be bite sized (meaning you should be able to fit the whole thing in your mouth without choking). The fish wasn't the freshest to begin with and only got worse since it's served on large platters and just sat out for a while. Ideally nigiri should be eaten immediately after the sushi-ya puts the cold fish on the warm rice. The nigiri for all there size had really minuscule amounts of wasabi. And as with the nigiri the rolls were also too large and hastily constructed. You'd think from this review that I probably hated my visit. That I sat their agonizing each bite, I didn't. I've come to accept that there'll be times when hanging out with friends will mean eating less than stellar food. I decided years ago in my "foodie career" that if I was going to choose to be somewhere I wouldn't waste my time or money being pissed off. I knew what to expect going in, so instead focused in on the great company. Saburo's is cheap enough (as far as sushi goes) that I wouldn't have been upset to have paid, but thankfully one of our generous friends took care of the check. Would I return were I paying and it was up to me to pick a place? No way. I can see how the other side loves this place, had I never experienced anything better I might have too. I even considered giving it Three Stars out of consideration for those that don't know any better, but will instead just rate it as it deserves. From an authentic sushi purist's perspective this isn't great sushi, in fact it's not even good...so...Two Stars (For horrific One Star sushi action check out yelp.com/biz/makoto-sush… ).

    (2)

  • Andrew A.

    Big ass-sized sushi does not a great sushi make. Yes, it's tasty and a good value, but Restaurant Murata dominates on taste. The soft shell crab appetizer was not appetizing. The signature roll with tempura shrimp and avacado was good. The rule that you can't order more than once is understandable, but a bit unfriendly. The wait sucks!

    (2)

  • Christina L.

    Haven't been in a while but I love it every time we get the chance to go. I think this is one restaurant where their hype translates into their ambiance, if that makes any sense. Their service is good and they get to you quickly. The line is a bit of a hassle, but it's part of the fun, I think. Food is goooooood.

    (5)

  • S G.

    I'd been coming to this place at least 10 times a year since 2009, by intentionally driving down from Seattle! Why? Because I always felt so good going to places that are full of crowd, they made huge sushi and that's it! Then, I decided to stop going from now on and I will tell you guys why as following below. Every time I go down there, I brought at least 2 people with me. In order to make everyone's life easier, I got there before they were opened. Put my name down the list and waited patiently. The guy in charge always, almost every time we go there, he let the large group cut the line by giving them table in advance and let us wait longer and enjoy the cold wind (back in winter)!!! Never mind, I never complain! Really never said a single word! Didn't even mention it because I know it's just the way it goes. Nothing personal, it's just business! As many of you may know, they don't really "service" your table, never mind, we go there to join the crowd for chunky sushi, we could tolerate this! Despite all these, every time I eat in there, I always tipped them 30-40% on the bill, even though I knew they already added 15% gratuity on my bill. Why?- Because I used to run a restaurant, I know how things like and I appreciate their hard work! Until last month, I started feeling the "heat" and stop giving them opportunity to treat me like a fool! Someday, sometime in April. We went in there, sat down and ordered our food. After we got our drinks, my friend found some dust in his glass. We called the waiter and told him about it. He took the glass away and returned with a new one. Didn't say a single word, no sorry, no smile, no nothing! I was like, " Okay......you get it taken care of and that's it!". Then, when the sushi came, we found almost half of the food we ordered were absent and got something strange instead, so we told the waitress about it with smiles. You know what happened? She brought the order slip over and said, " This is your order, nobody's done anything wrong here" in HIGH PITCH while giving me a cold stare for approximately 7 seconds!!! Two mins later, they figured out the food on our table was supposed to be at the table behind the bar. Same thing again, not a single word, no smile, no sorry, no nothing! The crew made mistake and we deserve to be treated like this eh? Yelling at me, cold starring me for your co-worker's mistake? Ladies and Gentlemen, you guys be the judge! I was getting a little upset, started losing appetite and I thought may be they were just having a bad day like everyone do once in a while! 20 mins later, our food finally came. We just eat and eat and eat until we were full! When we got our check, we saw the food previously served (the ones that wasn't ours) appeared on the list. We told the same waitress about it and asked for boxes. You know what? She showed us an angry face! I was like, " Am I the one who print the bill or I am the one who typed in the order?"!!!!! She returned with an updated check silently and left, just like that! Yea, just like that! Where are our boxes? Shall we just bring the left over home on plate? We then asked the guy if he could get us the boxes and he gave us straight away. Right at that second, the waitress came back to our table with boxes and when she saw we already had boxes, she said, " You already have boxes, why did you ask for twice!" Those young chicks at next table looked at us and I found their jaws were about to drop! The waitress then walked to the front and said something in Spanish! I was assuming she must be complaining about me making her run in and out for boxes so I just put my jacket on and left. After we got in the car, my friend who used to live in Madrid told me the waitress was actually bitching about me in Spanish, calling me Chino and go back to China for Peking Duck instead of Sushi bla bla bla stuff like that! And she even cursed me to die soon by consuming so much Wasabi and Soy Sauce. All were said in Spanish! I was offended! Really really offended, but it's okay! Why?- Because, sorry Senorita, I was born in Singapore and I spend most of my life in Europe. Dear Senorita, 1) I treat you with dignity by tipping you and your work crew more than you guys deserved, and I have done nothing wrong to you! So I do think you should treat me with a little respect in return! 2) I didn't make you work at the place that you don't like and deal with the people you don't like. If you are not afraid to admit you are having mental problem due to whatever reason, please go make an appointment with the counselor. Get it treated as soon as possible so you can have a life! 3) I don't know if you ever been to school or not, but even my fitness study says everyone should be morally treated with dignity and my 7 year old cousin just told me names calling is a mean and unnecessary behavior, let alone cursing people to die for boxes! I want you to know this, b'cuz everyone's evolving and you are expected to be one of us

    (1)

  • M Y.

    AWESOME. If you like sushi and you like LOTS of it, this is the place to be. The sushi here is HUGE. Not exaggerating. Literally double the size of a regular piece. Prices aren't outrageous and you'll definitely leave full. Our group ate until we were stuffed, and averaged $20 per person (that includes tip). The reality. You wait a bit to get a table. Lines can get pretty long from what I hear. It's not a fancy place. You can't expect the "genuine" sushi experience If you're down for a LOT of sushi one night and you have time, hit up Saburo's.

    (5)

  • Dustin C.

    One of my favorite (somewhat) hidden gem sushi places in Portland. It's awesome, but they don't take reservations and you need to wait for a table for a pretty long time...that being said, the wait is always worth it.

    (4)

  • Megan H.

    Just like most of you said, there is NO serves at all. To be honest, their food is excellent, but there is no need to interrupt our conversation for asking more than three times if we need a box to go when we just started to enjoy the sushi although I know there are so many people waiting outside. It made me really uncomfortable:(

    (1)

  • Jessica N.

    The wait for a table is horrible. The wait to get inside is terrible. The parking lot is like fitting a rectangle into a square piece (it's possible one way yet not another, but it's shitty). If you have no idea what you want ahead time, the wait is even longer for food because over half the people already know what they want... WHO CARES?! This is my favorite sushi place, though I don't come her often because all of the above. The food is GOOD. It's the whole experience of waiting for a hole-in-the-wall place and getting more than what you paid for. Gigantic pieces to stuff your face, stories shared waiting or while eating with your friends. It's great! Although, some downfalls would be 2 cards per 6 a table. Service is sometimes slow... It's not authentic sushi, but it's damn good enough. Though authentic sushi should be able to fit in your mouth in one piece, meh... Go to Japan. America is all about BIG BIG BIG - and you've got BIG BIG BIG rolls (eh, no pun intended). If you love squid, the squid sunomo is delish! The special rolls on a seperate sheet are great to choose from; and I have to admit, salmon sashimi is my weakness. Don't forget to try the big 'ol roll - for some reason it's ALWAYS a special. They don't have the spicy sauce (mayo & rooster)... And they kinda fail at knowing how to make it - but overall, nothing can beat the price and amount of food. It's fun taking out of town friends here since I don't recall a place like this anywhere else. If you're scared about waiting in line cause it's rainy, it's too hot, it's whatever - suck it up, you'll thank yourself for it.

    (5)

  • Nichole H.

    I love Saburos. Yes, the line is freakin long EVERY single night, but it is worth every minute. The portions, quality and price are excellent. I really like the ordering system, how you write what you want on the actual menu. The signature big O roll is delicious. The calamari is out of this world. Actually, pretty much all the rolls are out of this world. All the bad reviews because of the long lines are bogus...just go there expecting to wait and savor every bite. :)

    (4)

  • Coco L.

    They expanded, so more seats. However, the trick still is go early and wait for it to open. Otherwise, don't bother as long long wait!! They open at 5pm on weekday, and 4:30 on weekend. If you are at the restaurant ~15min before it open, you can ensure to have seat!! The portion has become smaller since I first came here years ago :( but still bigger portion than most of the sushi places. This is still my favorite sushi place in PDX!! Skip the sashimi and halibut sushi... The halibut sushi was pretty thin. Each fish of sashimi was only half size of the sushi ... Just stick with the sushi! Also don't expect much services

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    The Good: Definitely interesting...huge pieces of sushi and gigantic rolls at okay prices. The Bad: Way too big. Sushi is supposed to be a one-bite thing and meant to be a light meal. The rice portion is doubled, so you just feel stuffed (in a bad way). There is also almost always a line, so definitely not worth it. Try: it just because these big pieces are unique. Don't Try: ordering twice. It seems that you only get one chance to order (in the beginning) and that's it.

    (2)

  • Kenny J.

    OMG, so GOOD and CHEAP! The holy grail of dining, so definitely 5 stars in my book. Yes, yes, everyone will rant and complain about the wait. It's soooo worth it! Go to Kay's and a grab a pint or stop by Starbucks while you wait. Don't worry if you're away too long and they cross your name off, they're nice about getting you a table once you return. I was in town on a last minute business trip and a friend took me here for dinner. 1) River Eel - Such a generous piece of eel. It's seriously like 2x the size of the rice underneath. LOL! 2) Spicy Tuna - A standard staple, and executed perfectly. 3) CA/Crab Roll - Another staple, very good as well. 4) Hawaiian Roll - My favorite! It has spicy tuna and a few other things, and has a thin cucumber shell on the outside. Delicious! 5) Karate Roll - Another delicious special roll. A mix of a few kinds of fish, I forgot which ones, but I think it included chopped hamachi. The portions are gigantic. Definitely American sized. We could barely finish and had to will our stomachs to victory. Afterwards, we could hardly walk. lol! Prepare your mentally and physically to totally pig out on some delicious sushi. And don't worry about the cost because it's so cheap! Our dinner was about $25, so I left a generous tip. A true gem. I wish I could find a place like this in the Bay Area... ;P Next time I'm in Portland, I'll definitely have to go back to Saburo's. :D

    (5)

  • Rob L.

    I all my travels I have never had sushi as large, as fresh and as great at Saburo's - and I always scope put Sushi no matter where i am. the wait is hell, usually 45+ minutes so bring a jacket but its well worth it and causes us to go back time and time again

    (5)

  • Samuel K.

    SUSHI CHUMPS, stop reading. Sushi connoisseurs, listen up. Do you really want to listen to the opinion of someone who professes "I don't really eat sushi, but..."? Do you really want to listen to the opinion someone who is more concerned about availability of "vegetarian" sushi? Do you really want to listen to the opinion of someone who loves "creative" rolls overflowing with sriracha sauce and cream cheese and God knows what else people are shoveling into them these days? Do you really want to listen to the opinion of someone who is SOOOOoooo happy that their sushi is like, THREE times the size you get at other sushi places? Or that it is SOOOoooo cheap? If you are one of the few people who understand why I'm bitching about these things, then you have to avoid this place at all costs. Saburo is all about huge, choke-on-a-raw-piece-of-gristly-fish pieces, with cheap prices, rude service and horrible wait times. If that sounds like something you don't want, you have to avoid this place at all costs. If you understand just how incredible a fresh piece of uni is, creamy, sweet, light, melting, then you have to avoid this place at all costs. If you revere the sushi experience, if you understand what it's like to be taken care of by a sushi chef from the beginning to the end of the meal, if you understand what it's like to look at a piece of sushi and just realize, looking at it, how much the chef has scrutinized every aspect of it, from where he sources the fish from, to what season he got it in, to how he aged it, to how he seasoned it, to how he cut it and how he selected which part of the fish, to what order in the meal he presented it in, THEN you have to avoid this place at all costs. Seriously, this place is a constant source of embarrassment for me. The fact that Portland is such an incredible island of culinary pleasure, and yet so many people here revere this place is completely beyond me.

    (1)

  • Brett M.

    So, I've only been here once and it was only my girlfriend and I on a weekday evening, which did have at least a 30 minute wait. There is very little seating or cover for those waiting, so I just recommend going when its not raining or bring an umbrella and expect to be waiting outside for a while. It is a very small place and seems to have a very loyal following, so I'd expect this wait to be constant about anytime you go (and make sure to get your name on their wait list). To be honest, I'm not a sushi expert, but I have been to a variety of sushi restaurants. So, with the amount of rave reviews about this place, I expected to be blown away by it. The food was very good, but in our opinion, not absolutely fantastic as many believe. We had Gyoza, Deep-fried Calamari, Philly Crunch Rolls, Mt. Hood Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, California Rolls w/ Real Crab and Saki. Other than the Philly Crunch Rolls having a bit too much cream cheese, we did enjoy everything else we had. I'm just not certain the wait and prices are truly worth the end experience, but please don't take this as a negative review, only that it didn't completely live up to all the hype we had read about it.

    (2)

  • Char L.

    Holy Crap! One of the highlights of my tour de Portland! The sushi is so freaking cheap here. Eight piece sashimi for like $8. The salmon sashimi was outta this world fresh!! The rolls were huge, averaging 6 to 7 peices each and very well priced at ~$6. I'd get the speciality rolls over the more plain rolls cuz even though they are the same width, the plain rolls have a lot of rice and not much fish. Order everything at once! They don't like it when you finish your meal and order more food. Restaurant is a bit small, so expect to wait if your group is larger than 4.

    (5)

  • Julie P.

    We waited about an hour on a Friday night for seats at the sushi bar. This place has a line out the door for a reason. The rolls are enormous and very reasonably priced. In my opinion, the rolls are uncomfortably big and very messy to eat. It's kind of... vulgar how wide you have to open your mouth. Good flavor, though. I enjoyed the sashimi more. Overall, very friendly service and pleasant experience. Will try it again.

    (3)

  • Nicole L.

    You may have to wait for a bit to get a table, but that is only a testament to how good people think it is! The portions are HUGE, and the fish is good quality. Sure it's a but more expensive than a conveyor-belt sushi joint, but Saburo's is so worth the extra money!

    (5)

  • Huong-Hung N.

    We went there first time last nite, it was A-OK. The line wasn't that bad, we were 4th in line, waited for 15 mins in the rain. We ordered quite a few things since we heard that it's a one time order per table but in the end, we want some to go and we ask if we could and they let us. The service was excellent, the food looked fanstastic but taste ok. I like Budokhan roll the best, CA roll with real crab was a little dry. I might be back, but we'll see.

    (3)

  • Trimaine B.

    I frequent alot of sushi places as fish is one of my favorite foods. Fish is probably the biggest reason I will not ever become a vegetarian. With that said, I have notice I have become somewhat of a secret sushi snob. I am particular with sushi, serving it is more than just eating piece of fish rolls and rice, it is an art form and I judge sushi with this in mind. Overall a OK experience. I have had worse sushi before, but I also have had tons better. The fish was fresh and the pricing was of the norm if not a bit on the cheaper end. The service was generally good as well. However a few things about the place put me off form giving it a higher rating. First off, the rolls are too big and fall apart. I do not know if this is a thing for this place of not, but these rolls were some of the biggest, if not biggest I have seen in my life. Some may not see this as a negative thing, to each their own. However, in reference to my idea that sushi is an art-form, big rolls are not within that art form and made the experience of eating the sushi awkward. In keeping with the awkward theme, the set up of the place is awkward, I did not feel like a sushi place to me. The general taste of the sushi, while not bad, was not anything special. It was somewhat bland. The ingredients did not seem to work together. It was as if something was missing. But I will say that the ginger was not dyed. Which is a big plus for me. This place is oddly popular, and I am not sure why, so maybe I am an outlier. Maybe I just had high expectations for this place since it was in Portland. I do not know. I will continue my quest and frequent other sushi places in Portland, but I am not quite sure if I will end up at Saburo's again anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Roman S.

    biggest sushi ever? at most places you have to order a lot to get full - not here.. everything is super-sized and cheap. quality is good (based on taste) this place is great.. however, this place has too many nuances (they can get away with it given their demand) better for smaller groups long line to get in (i recommend waiting at the starbucks across the corner). you can only order once, two checks per group, and auto 15% gratuity for parties of 5 or more. worth checking out at least once~

    (3)

  • Jen g.

    Super-sized rolls. Fresh tasting and very flavorful!! Great prices, long wait times

    (4)

  • stacey k.

    If you are waiting in line for quality sushi you shouldn't. This place is for huge rolls. Period. Service is efficient. Sushi rolls are ok. There were 5 of us and we took home far too much food. Who eats sushi leftovers?! Try it once for the novelty. Go somewhere else for quality fish.

    (3)

  • Allison C.

    the wait just goes on and on until you're finally seated. the portions tremendous and delicious, we always over order. the staff fairly friendly and attentive. eat here, you won't regret it.

    (4)

  • Ryohei A.

    OK, let me put these into yelper's perspective... When I went into Saburo's it was 5 years ago when I used to live in the Sellwood neighborhood. It was great sushi. The fish was fresh and quality are very good for the price. I understood why this place was popular. Fast forward 4 years. I went back in several more times and each and every time the food has gotten worse. It wasn't as fresh as before and portion got smaller and smaller. For place like Saburo' if you start giving smaller portions you are slowly shredding yourself. This is because they were famous for their big portions. Now I understand that fish, rice, and flour prices went SKY ROCKET past 3 years.(For those who don't know, this has been EXTREMELY difficult times for any restaurants, but especially the sushi joints) To say the fish is overpriced...well it is, but you will be surprised how expensive the good quality fish would be, especially with Yen being historically high last few months.(Assuming that sushi joints are ordering traditional fish from Japan ie. Horse Mackerel, Red Snapper, Japanese Saury pike, Flat fishes...) I personally find this joint unique, but I would not say this is "great sushi." Sushi "traditionally" supposed to be all in one bite to enjoy various flavors while the fluffy vinegar rice compliments the fish on top. Wasabi kills the germ while adding that taste and heat, and ginger cleans your palete. Now this wouldn't be a "traditional" joints and they are not going for that so this wouldn't be fair comparison. However, then what are they trying to do? Just impress the customers with BIG serving which contradicts the meaning of the sushi itself? In that sense they are just smearing dirt on the Japanese culture of sushi, and sort of disrespecting the city of Portland by thinking that vast majority of you guys will be happy to see BIG raw fish in front of you regardless of the quality(Albeit making sure it is decent/edible) That's completely cool but the portions will be smaller and smaller, trust me on this as prices are not getting cheaper on supplies. You might not notice this, but there are supplies being cut somewhere. I am not here to hate on here but I am not impressed with their sushi. Service is mediocre to a little decent and only the hype is huge. With that said though, the value is still decent here, and we don't mind coming back here on and off though we moved away from this neighborhood. I just don't understand people who who give this 5 stars. There are no 5 star sushi restaurant here in the city of Portland in my book. You all can disagree with me but I've had awsome sushi every year in Japan and unless you go to LA or New York it is really hard to find a "real" sushi here. I don't want to find real sushi here. Because it is either: 1. Imitators, or 2. Expensive Don't get me wrong, I still go to some sushi joints here but I don't think this hard when I am going there. I don't mind the sushi go-arounds and few joints here and there but I don't think of them as real sushi. It is good for what it is, and I am happy with what I eat. Some of you will completely disagree, and I'm totally cool. This joint is fine and you should enjoy this joint, especially if you are regular. But for those who understands what I am trying to say, you can take my words with grain of salt....I hope. But hey who am I to say all these nonsense BS right...?

    (2)

  • Sara Q.

    pretty sure this place might have the best sushi in all of pdx. they have ginormous rolls and hand rolls. we had everything from the spicy tuna (salad, rolls and hand roll) to mini fried octopuses then a massive plate of LARGE salmon bellies to buddakan rolls and real crab california rolls. there was definitely more but by golly how would i remember it all from everything we ordered? i posted pictures so definitely take a look. everything was super fresh and tasted amazing. i wish they would have given us more ginger and wasabi without having to ask for it considering all the food we ordered. great place to dine, but note to self: arrive early! we arrived 15 minutes before opening and was one of the last groups to get a spot before having to wait on the waiting list. people are nuts about this place.

    (5)

  • Mike K.

    Hahah some of the negative reviews here crack me up. Sushi snobs (even those who aren't self aware) there are plenty of sushi places for you, and for that matter for me, when I feel like the "sushi experience". By the way, sushi is the rice, so there isn't a damn thing wrong with vegetarian sushi (except that for every animal you vegans don't eat, I've got to eat two!). When I feel like sucking back a couple of beers and eating a pile of poke, I'm going to Saburo you snobs,and you know what? I usually prefer it to the pomp and BS around overpriced stuff. Probably because of people like you. 5 stars? Yeah. Find a better place for what Saburo does in Portland. Their niche, near as I can tell, is filling you up with good sushi on the cheap and they excel at it, while feeding those who might not be into traditional sushi some tasty fried stuff so they can come along for the ride. Talk to one of the servers about sake- they have some really nice ones, trust them and let them bring you a bottle to try. The only embarassment connected with Saburo is that some people have to smugly rain on other peoples' parades because they'd rather act like they know something the rest of us don't. Gee, really? There are fancier sushi places with smaller sushi and higher prices? Thanks, cap'n obvious.

    (5)

  • Brandi H.

    I dream about Saburo's sushi. I'm not a big raw fish gal. I'm not even a big sushi gal. I am a big Saburo's gal though! They definitely have the best bang for your buck. I'm from Hawaii where sushi is good/expensive and when my parents come visit, this is the first place they want to go. Every time I go, I send them pictures to make them jealous. I always over-order and have never left without leftovers. This may not be the traditional one-bite sushi but who cares, it's good! Where else can you get $10 of sushi and be full?! Nowhere. Saburo's is always a special treat for me. Plan on being there at 4:30 and you will get in on the first round. Bring a book or friends to talk to or bejeweled. Things I always get: spicy tuna salad, age dashi dofu, real crab cali rolls ($4.95), sabu roll (a rainbow roll - 6pc/$6.50), tamago, inari and then the bf gets all the fishy fish sushi. Everyone seems to love the unagi, which is the length of a chopstick and only $4 for 2 pcs. Saburo's is da bomb!

    (5)

  • Evan B.

    The best value for your money as far a sushi is concerned. The fish tastes clean and fresh. I tend to stay away from the huge specialty rolls, which can be good, because they are so awkward to eat. Three rolls per person max, unless you want to take a lot of sushi home (its never as good as fresh). There is a reason you have to wait for this one. I know some sushi purists out there are bashing this place for being Americanized and inauthentic, and they may be right, but to be honest I don't care. California rolls are inauthentic, but they are also delicious so whats the difference. I love the food. I have been there more than ten times and have not been disappointed once. I put my name in and go to Kay's bar for a drink or two, just a suggestion.

    (5)

  • Hilary T.

    I was a regular here when I lived in the neighborhood and always brought people visiting from out of town. Saburos is a great little restaurant with a wide selection of sushi and Japanese food. The people who work here are really friendly and the service is very prompt, once you sit down. They don't take reservations and they get very busy so I recommend getting there early. I'm not a huge fan of all their rolls, but their avocado/cucumber roll is great for the price and their spicy tuna is to die for. Be warned, the rolls are huge so be prepared to eat!

    (4)

  • Janine S.

    Do you like sushi? I absolutely love sushi! From the fresh sashimi bowls of japan to fake Americanized rolls in Idaho, I've had the all. Saburos offers a great balance of both styles, and even though it leans slightly toward the fake Americanized side, you can't blame them for the speed, taste, and price of their sushis. I've been there 4 times now, and each time i find something new on the menu to like. Downsides are the loooong wait times at the normal dinner hours, if you come on a friday or weekend night be prepared to sign your name on a list and go home to take a nap. Come back an hour later and you will feel so proud when wading through the masses of jealous eyes staring at you as the "waiter" calls your name and random people wanting to befriend you so they can get in.

    (4)

  • Ellen L.

    The rolls are huge, but when it comes to taste, I've had fresher. Still, you can't beat the value, size, and options.

    (4)

  • Kenny P.

    I really like it here. Usually what i ordered: 1. Big O Roll - kind of fried sushi with spicy fish in the middle. The dipping just make it more delicious 2. Rainbow Roll - Not in the menu but you can order it. They come in huge and generous topping. 3. Agedashi Tofu - not the best but i think this one is decent taste 4. Unagi - They have a really fresh unagi. Not fishy and the sauce is just great. Unlike other sushi restaurant that give you a tear drop of unagi sauce 5. Spicy Tuna Salad - This is exceptionally delicious.. Love it 6. Salmon skin Salad - I love this one too.. you have to try it. The tuna is crisp and the dressing match everything inside it Some people might not like it because of the size of the sushi. But me and almost all of my friends love it. Not because they are big, but they are fresh. Well, if my words not really count, you can try to see the line. Never ever one day, the line is easy. You always have to stand at least 30 minutes (and this is considered lucky, sometimes even 2 hours). The queuing speaks for itself :) The only thing that i really hate is the waiting line and the parking.

    (4)

  • Michelle G.

    This place is great! Definitely not exactly your "fine dining" type of sushi place, it's a very casual atmosphere. I've had a huge variety of rolls here, and I don't think there's been a single one I was disappointed with. The fish always tastes extremely fresh, the rice is a good texture and not mushy, still warm or overcooked, and the servers are highly attentive, friendly, and just damn good at what they do. The comments about the long wait for a table are TRUE however - be prepared to wait an hour for a table, on average. Sometimes on really cold or rainy days, especially weekdays, there's little to no wait because no one wants to stand around outside for that long (space inside is EXTREMELY limited). I think it's worth the wait, but bring a snack. Definitely NOT a place for young children if there's a wait.

    (5)

  • Dmitri A.

    Oh wow! I am not a huge sushi fan at all, but this place takes the cake for sushi. I went here for the first time a few months ago and every chance I get I go back. It is a great place to go to with a group of friends for an awesome and pretty cheap meal. I am veggie so I usually just order the veggie roll, which is the best I've had anywhere. As is the case with all of their rolls, they are huge, the rice is perfect, and the ingredients inside are top quality. My friends told me the same about their rolls of sushi with fish and other seafood. Also the yakisoba is outstanding, although I wish there were more veggies in it. The wait is typically pretty long, but that is why it is great to go with a group of friends. For a Japanese restaurant the kitchen is staffed by what seems to be 95% latinos, but you wouldn't have a clue just from tasting the food.

    (5)

  • Samantha M.

    This place is AMAZING. And it's ok if you don't all think it's AMAZING, because there are enough people waiting for their doors to open every night that they likely don't need your extra business. We always bring out of town friends to experience the magic that is this little restaurant, and they always mention it as a highlight of the trip. 5 BIG 'OL STARS for your Saburo! Like you even need 'em.

    (5)

  • Janie N.

    Two words: Sushi-Nazi. But the food is AMAZING. Go if you love sushi and don't mind waiting in line and getting a little bit of an ego-abuse, and only having to order once even if you cry and beg for more -- you're just wasting your breath and wasting their time as well. Just don't leave before your name is called, because they will forget you and proceed to the next customers. But don't let that stop you from going, seriously, it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Diana R.

    BIGGEST PIECES OF SUSHI I'VE EVER SEEN.. even outside San Francisco's Japantown.. they've got nothing on Saburo's!! I had an Alaska roll, spicy tuna, fried tofu (pass on that one, only reason for -1 star) and salmon skin roll.. AMAZINGGGG... dinner for 4 with plenty to take home for 52$. not cheap but not overly pricey either for quality AND quantity we experienced.. I'll FOR SURE come back next time I'm in portland!! =D

    (4)

  • Midge C.

    One of my talents is eating. That's right, I said it... girlfriend can EAT. I was once at a cafe, sitting at the counter, and chowing down on some corn beef hash. A trucker said to me, "Wow, you sure can eat!" I took it as a compliment. Okay, back to my review. While we were waiting outside for our table, I noticed that most people walking out had boxes of leftovers. Ummm... leftovers from a sushi restaurant? REALLY? Do Portlandians know how to eat? I scoffed that I would NEVER have leftovers from sushi. Novices. Okay, okay. I was so very wrong. We had a party of four and ordered 5 rolls and four nigiri. Everything was HUGE! I have never had nigiri that I had to eat in multiple bites. The novelty of this giant sushi made my whole night! Plus, it was really good sushi! Oh, and SUPER cheap too! Along with our rolls and nigiri, we had a couple beers. Our bill was just a little over $52! It was awesome... and yes, we had a whole box of leftover sushi. Oh, the shame. I think that trucker would have been disappointed in me. Added bonus: The endless opportunities for "That's what she said" jokes while you are eating here. Priceless.

    (5)

  • Miyun Y.

    My husband and I used to come here everytime we came to Portland but sadly the food and the service has slowly deteriorated. The fish isn't as fresh as it used to be and the service is HORIBBLE!! I went again with my co-workers to give it another try but again, they didn't fail to disapoint. We waited very long for a waiter to come and get our order and when we tried to get their attention, the waiter wagged his finger at us to wait. Then they added a 15% tip to our bill when we only had 3 in our party! When we tried to voice our concerns regarding the service to the Manager, the Manager told us blatently that he didn't need our service and we didn't have to come back. That's his solution?! Incredible.... Overall, I will never return here. The restaurant, the service and the sushi just isn't what it used to be. There are soo many wonderful restaurants in Portland. No need to waste your time with this one.

    (1)

  • Dan S.

    Before I became a sea-foodie and even a sushi-foodie (I used to despise it but slowly became a number one fan) my wife would rave about this place when we lived in Portland. I went there once with her and ordered some soup or something and didn't really see what was so great. But, after going back in June I have completely changed my mind. We started the line that routinely forms every afternoon at 4pm to ensure our table for six. Once the place opened (anyone that has been here knows this place is only open for like 4-5 hours certain days a week), we were seated right away. The rolls are huge! And super tasty! 'Nuff said!

    (5)

  • Aaron L.

    Went last night with Kirsten and we had a great time. Sat at the bar, so we didn't have to wait long at all. Also, we learned to moderate our ordering and actually finished almost everything. The only thing I didn't like was the spider roll, but then I never like spider roll, but we ordered it anyways. I think I've always liked the name more than the actual roll, but I digress...

    (4)

  • Magicka M.

    The fish is Absolutely fresh, No Doubt!! The size of the sushi is huge! It can be a good thing or a bad thing. I personally prefer that the whole sushi can be consumed all together at once because each flavor of the sushi need to mix inside your mouth to create one fabulous taste. It was still good regardless, but I felt that I wasn't getting the full experience of sushi. On the other hand the fish pieces on the nigiri and the the poke were VERY generously sized (not to forget that they were very fresh), which I was very much satisfied with. We arrived about 5:30pm and didn't seem to wait that long at all. It was about 20 minutes for us, but then again we were only 2 people and we were expecting to wait as well so we came prepared (or at least ready to wait even longer). Service was decent as well. They kept refilling our waters. We each ordered 4 different things off of the menu (8 total) and had a good amount of left overs to take home. Together we spent 50.00 including the tip (42 before tip). We could have spent less, but we did prefer a variety which had us choosing more items. Because the sushi is humongous we could have easily spent about 10-$15 and still mange to leave happily stuffed. The only slight other problem is that this place is pretty small and since a lot of people like it, it does get a bit crowded. Definitely worth a try :)

    (4)

  • Mark R.

    Sashimi was pretty good. Didn't order any of their infamous giant rolls. Because we didn't have time... Service was terrible. Was told we had to order EVERYTHING NOW or else it will take 45m-1hr. Then received our bill with empty drinks and full plates. Ended up giving the cooks more of a tip then the waiter...I mean, if that guy that brought us two beers and a check was really our waiter. Kind of coming to expect this in Portland...everywhere I go...sad.

    (3)

  • Kristen M.

    I grew up on sushi and this place is a solid 2.5 stars. Sorry for all you fans of Saburo's but I honestly didn't think my fish was that fresh. It was almost room temperature....... I like my fish sushi grade - cold and fresh. I totally agree with Don B how it is a "must try and as they do go back more and more, it gets less and less appealing". Expect to wait 1-2 hours for a table. Parking is on the street in the nearby neighborhoods because their parking lot is full and small. The only perks to this place is that the prices are cheap and you get giant pieces of sushi. For those who don't like to eat raw fish, they do have a laundry list of other Japanese dishes to choose from. The place is tiny and can get a little cramped for your style. So if this isn't for you and you're a bit claustrophobic. I wouldn't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Harold O.

    Great lil compact environment with sushi that's definitely a bargain for your money! Sushi tastes great too.

    (4)

  • J S.

    By far, the best sushi I have ever had. There is usually a wait. Get there at first seating if you can.

    (5)

  • Mitch A.

    You get a lot because they use a second rate fish. Next time you order salmon belly, salmon or tuna look to see if there are cut marks in it.

    (2)

  • Reed C.

    In my humble opinion, this is by far the best sushi (for both taste and price) in Portland. You really can't go wrong with the menu. Their specials are simple, fresh, and delicious. Their rolls are creative, colorful and so freaking good. Never before have a had a hand roll so generous, where the fish went all the way through to the end. Excellent. As you might imagine, if you want to eat at Saburo on the weekend, get in line. And I mean 30 minutes before they open at 4:30pm. We were told by someone ahead of us that if you're standing ahead of the power meter that's on the wall in the parking lot where the line forms, you're good to go. If you can't get there early and you have to wait, dress warmly in the fall/winter, and bring your hacky sac/good conversation/favorite smartphone app.... it's totally worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Jeff L.

    Huge portions. Awesome!

    (4)

  • Jasmine L.

    It's a five-star restaurant, no doubt. No fancy interior, no friendly service, no short wait for a table, but their sushi is incredible in size, price, variety, quantity and taste. See! 5 stars for each qualifier! And for the four days I visited Portland... they were CLOSED!!!! Make sure you call in advance to see if they will be open for business. Apparently, they close for two weeks in the summer (well deserved, I s'pose), and it so darn happened to be the weekend that I was there! BOO HOO.

    (5)

  • Pingle I.

    The sushi is delectable and tasty, and are portioned nicely. Despite the great flavors of the sushi, the lines are incredibly long and ordering is a hassle.

    (3)

  • Julianna D.

    What??? People are crazy for their low ratings! I've lived all over the coast from Mexico to Washington so I know my fish. This is pretty excellent sushi. So what if they are sushi nazis? They have a huge line of costumes so yeah they will try to rush you out the door! But guess what?! It's so freaking worth it!!! BEST SUSHI EVER. Haters gonna hate. I go for the fish not to be treated like royalty.

    (5)

  • Brian G.

    HOLY MOTHER OF ALL SUSHI PORTIONS! I can't make a trip with my partner to Portland without eating at Saburo's. I'm not a big sushi eater at all, but he is and this place satisfies his every sushi craving (often for more than one meal because he always over-orders.) I'm satisfied by a piece here and there and eating off the appetizer and soup menu while watching those around me eat themselves into a raw fish coma. The portions are HUGE. Like, Giants in the sky huge. As everyone else has mentioned -- get there early or expect to wait. The dining area is small and the lines are often long -- thankfully, there is now a wine bar next door to get good and sauced at while waiting.

    (5)

  • Lou L.

    Great sushi!! Large servings I've ever seen, very very fresh!!! Perfect!!! Tasty, reasonably priced!!! They need one in Hawaii!! Best sushi place ever! Come here on very Portland trip. Because its so reasonable, there's always a long line. So go early.

    (5)

  • Wes B.

    The common misconception many people have is that this is a traditional sushi restaurant. It is far from it. The over-sized pieces and fusion style rolls make this obvious. To date, over the past 24 months, I've been to Saburo's about ten times. I have yet to have a bad experience. I am a sushi connoisseur. But unlike many people who claim this title, I am not obsessed with traditional sushi. I enjoy the American take on sushi just as much as I enjoy traditional style sushi and sashimi. I've eaten at trash buffets, and I've eaten at places so traditional they refuse to serve California rolls. I am a snob about freshness, and in my ten visits to Saburo's over the years, I've only questioned the freshness of a single order of Halibut once. In order to keep the prices down, the small restaurant is packed, and it is generally expected that you get your order together soon after being seated. They take this a little to far, which is the only reason I'm marking them down a star. They have odd rules like not being able to order to go after you are done with your meal (if you have someone at home, you better include what you want with the original order, and be okay with it sitting there). Maximum of two order-splits per table (try this with a party of 6!) and a few other quirks, but it's all sidelined by the amazing food and value. Oh, and the painting in the back is AMAZING. Definitely try Saburros, its worth the wait!!

    (4)

  • Don B.

    Saburos is odd - most people love it when they first try it, and as they go back more and more, it gets less and less appealing. That said, Saburos has gone way downhill from what it once was. In theory, it is sushi because it is raw fish on rice, but otherwise, it is far from real sushi. The cuts are too big. All of the artistry of sushi (yes, there is a lot of artistry to real, good sushi) is missing here. The fish is standard quality. I liked the value the first few times I went, but hated the wait (HATED it). My wife used to drag me here time after time because she likes the Hawaiian rolls and because it's cheap. I don't like their rolls at all - too big, you can't get one whole piece in your mouth in one bite. Sushi is supposed to be delicate and cut with love, not basically a salmon fillet laying atop a hill of rice. This is good for your value... but you could go to Todai and get even more for your value buffet-sushi style (if you want to gorge), and the quality is about on par. Do yourself a favor, save your money and go pay to enjoy some real sushi as it is meant to be enjoyed. Bask in the glory of a perfectly cut piece of incredibly fresh fish, ever so carefully placed atop a double-pinch of rice - a sushi piece you can fit in your mouth in one bite, as it is supposed to be eaten. If you have a craving for large volumes of hacked up discount fish served up after an hour+ wait in a crammed yet fun atmosphere, then Saburos is your place. I have eaten here more times than I care to remember (and usually at the behest of someone else), but long ago I did what Laura has so aptly suggested - I decided how much my time was worth. So doing, I chose to respect both my time and my taste-buds, and have not been back since.

    (2)

  • Michael D.

    Long ass wait. No matter what time you go, its gonna be at least 45 minutes until you can sit down and order. When my brother said the sushi here was bomb, i was a little skeptical. I mean, sushi in oregon? i dunno about that one man. Anyway, we came here and i ordered 3 rolls and 6 pieces of nigiri, but then my brother stopped me right there and told me that that was enough food for the both of us. I thought he was insane. 3 rolls and a few pieces of nigiri for two people? We're gonna starve! He was right. the rolls were HUGE. Sure, they had a lot of rice in them, but you can't complain if theres a lot of fish in them too! and the nigiri. oh em gee. Each piece had like a SLAB of fish on it. No kidding, there was probably 3 times as much fish as there were rice. The pictures on yelp do no justice. The eel pieces are seriously half as long as my arm. The rolls were decent, but I'd come here for the nigiri. So much fish for so little.

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    I like this sushi place. The sushi was huge and pretty good. We had a big group - 12 people but when the final bill came up, we only had to pay around$15 per person! our table ordered 6 rolls and i was amazed that we cleaned everything up! nothing was left on our plates and we were happy. the staff are friendly and the service is quick. The only drawback: LONG lines! we had to wait roughly 1 hour for this. If you come in early around 5 pm (when they just opened), the line wouldn't be as long as around 6 pm-ish... I'd be back but just thinking about the lines made me shiver..

    (4)

  • fon z.

    If you think you are a sushi snob you might not like this place, due to its unorthodox size. Traditionally, sushi pieces are made to a bite size, but Saburo's sushi will take 3 bites to finish each piece even if you have an abnormal sized mouth. Having said that, I love this place. To me good sushi isnt defined by the size but by the quality of the fish. Saburo does not shy from this. Every Uni I have ever had at saburo's is fresh and delicious (it's easier to taste unfresh uni than fish). I cant even say that about Sushi Restaurants I've paid more than $100 pp. The food carries authenticity with a creative spin that results in feeding your appetite and craving for more. It is one of the few sushi restaurants in Portland that has a regular following of Japanese people. That says a whole lot more than any other American critic could say about this place. The downside is the wait. 1+ hour wait is not uncommon. Bring your entertainment of choice (friends, book, ipod), and your appetite, and prepare to be satisfied.

    (4)

  • Laura N.

    I first reflect upon some eerily foreshadowing lyrics: Down here all the fish is happy As off through the waves they roll The fish on the land ain't happy They sad 'cause they in the bowl And in the case of Saburo's the bowl is OVERFLOWING with sashimi that could be mistaken in size for a decent cut of steak. While in theory this sounds pretty good, especially for the price, the allure of this Japanese delicacy plummets when you awkwardly learn that there is nothing delicate about shoving a raw fish the size of a brick in your mouth. And the wait? I mean...folks...this is a moment when you must reflect on how much your time is worth. Waiting for cheap ginormous sushi might be right up your alley. If so, then unhinge your jaw and go at it. Call me a guppie, but I would rather pay the same price for sushi that is less intimidating, that I can eat right away, and that I'm not worried about reincarnating in my stomach with a vengeance.

    (3)

  • Steven C.

    Saburo's is by far best value is Sushi hands down. Do they use the highest possible grade fish? No. Do they try to make a beautiful presentation? No. Is the place fancy? No. Is the service great? No. Do they give good sized, good priced, good quality servings of sushi? YES. Why do I like it? I can eat food I love, be full at the end for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. When you order, just remember 1 order at Saburo's is like 2 to 4 orders at other places (and that's why it's such a great value). To those who think they KNOW what sushi should be I offer you these responses: "Sushi is an Art" - You realize that sushi was sold on the streets/docks and not in restaurants for MANY years before it ever got "fancy" or art-like? It was one of the original forms of "fast food" "They should just forgo chopsticks" - It is perfectly NORMAL to eat sushi with your hands. "It's not authentic" - Yes and no. It is "american sized" however the flavors are right, they use the correct amount of Su (vinegar) which most places don't. "It's not good quality fish" - Some people just don't know what good IS. I have seen people complain because their maguro (tuna) wasn't bright red. They actually got a fattier/oilier (thus more flavorful, healthier and valuable) piece of fish than the lean "Akami" that they were accustomed to. Is it the best grade, most expensive fish available? Hell no, but it's not like when everyone eats steak they only eat at El Gaucho or (insert your own $50+ steak place here). Bottom line, VALUE VALUE VALUE. Pro Tip: If you go expecting to wait and expecting bad service, then you can actually relax and enjoy yourself. Took my wife's family last time I went (they are Japanese from Japan) and they enjoyed it. They had wine next door while waiting then enjoyed the american sized sushi and they had NO PROBLEMS with the taste/quality AND they ate with their hands.

    (4)

  • Ariel S.

    I love you Saburo's! I love your fresh fish, incredible prices, and ridiculously sized portions! I love the Vato looking dudes that make up a good portion of your staff! I hate your lines, but I understand why they are always there.. because you rule ! I also hate when you are closed for no reason..... I guess it makes you kindof enigmatic in a way, but mostly its annoying! Salmon belly, come to meeeeee!

    (5)

  • Helen Y.

    The size of their sushi often impress people... It is always crowed with people waiting outside. It is worth it if you're very hungry that night craving for sushi. This is the spot for cheap sushi that will fill you up. They don't always do to-go orders, and... they don't take your second order neither. I love their Hawaiian-roll a lot... and their spicy tuna salad is another dish I usually go for~! The more people you have in your party, the longer you have to wait in line for usually... I suggest going there either at 4:30 (when they start to open for dinner) or 7:30 (when they first group of customers finishing up with their dinner)

    (4)

  • Amanda L.

    First of all, you need to know that I (and my date this evening) are vegetarian, and yes, we both love sushi. We kept meaning to go to Saburo's but were always put off by the long wait and the fact that everyone talks about this place in regards to the fresh fish, which we do not consume. However, I must say that the food was amazing, "even" for vegetarians! There are 4-5 sushi options plus of course seaweed salad, miso, edamame, etc. for us vegetarians. Like so many others said, portions are huge. We ordered about what we normally would at another sushi joint but both had lots of leftovers for lunch the next day. So, vegetarians, go and try this place even if you don't eat fish! I had to write a review specifically for you. The reason I gave this place 4 stars, though, was that I felt the service was lacking. We waited an hour with only 6 or so tables ahead of us, which we knew was a possibility. But after we were seated, someone dropped off water for us, asked if we wanted anything else to drink, and rushed away. Then someone different almost grabbed the menu out from under me (which you check-mark your order on) before I could double-check that one of the things we wanted to order was vegetarian. Then a totally different person dropped our food off. Then we had to flag someone down for water refills and later, for the check. I understand that they were busy, but, being someone who was in the service industry for 8+ years, I know that each table needs and deserves attention when they are paying you. Overall, we will be back, hoping that the service is better. Or at least take-out will be in order soon. Anyone know if/when they do take-out?

    (4)

  • Jenn H.

    My fav sushi restaurant in Portland! It's not unusual to see the line wrap around outside. Come on a weeknight and the wait is reasonable. If you're buddies with the guy who calls you in then he'll hook you up! I've seen it happen (but not to me, ha) the Hawaiian Roll is my favorite! If you're a fan of salmon nigiri, get the Salmon Belly instead of the Salmon! it's much more flavorful ^_^ the Unagi here is another favorite of mine ^_^ If you're a fan of maguro (red tuna) then I wouldn't even bother, though...it always disappoints me =( As everyone else said, the portions are huge, the value is good!~~~*

    (5)

  • Cindy Y.

    i can't stop raving about this hole in the wall restaurant. Anytime I have people come visit me in Portland, this is one of the many stops I hit- and even if they don't like sashimi, the rolls here are equally delicious. Just the size of the rolls are due for some shock and pictures! People say that there are better restaurants in beaverton and what not, but living in clackamas, i don't want to venture allll the way across the river for sushi when there's a perfectly great restaurant in Sellwood. I would definitely go with someone that knows sushi and what different types of fish are, it's a fast paced restaurant and there's a lot of pressure to order as soon as you sit down because you waited so damn long.

    (4)

  • Kama I.

    To all those who give one star or "CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM", they can't please everyone but if you are dissatisfied to such an extreme degree--TELL THEM YOURSELF so they may improve, rather than publicly write such disdainful reviews. BUT..I LOVE THIS PLACE. If you are unsatisfied and "will never return" that's fine, more room for me and everyone else I know! All other positive reviews speak for themself!

    (5)

  • Abbe and Jebby E.

    My family moved to Sellwood when I was eight years old, and the most consistent thing about this neighborhood has been the masses of hungry people lining up outside Saburo's. Shitty Thai restaurants come and go, the space on the corner of 17th and Sherrett has been a thousand things while I've lived here, but the little sushi shop on the corner of Bybee and Milwaukie has endured, and so have the hordes of customers. Not rain, nor sleet, nor driving wind can keep them away - in the dead of winter or the middle of a heatwave, it doesn't matter, there will always, without fail, be a line outside Saburo's. So, you could say that this review has been seventeen years in the making. Honestly, the thing that makes Saburo's so distinctive, their enduring line, is the very thing that has kept me away. When you see a line in front of a place, it usually means it's good, but it also usually means a long wait. In our case, it was also a really unpleasant part of our dining experience. I expected friendly banter with the other customers waiting to dine, but Abbe and I were pushed and jostled, and when we got inside and saw how small the space was, it became a bit of a nightmare. The place was jam-packed full of people, and seemed short staffed. We were hurried to a corner and treated as though our presence was a nuisance. The décor of the restaurant was pretty awesome, with a full wall ukiyo-e style mural in the back. Unfortunately, the layout went beyond "leaves something to be desired." We were crammed into the tiniest space possible and I could literally feel the next diner over breathing on my hand they were so close. I just don't understand. The restaurant is obviously successful. If you have enough diners that you have a line of people outside every night waiting to eat there, you should consider expanding to a space where your diners can be comfortable and enjoy their company while they eat your delicious food. I did happen to think the food was delicious. Abbe and I varied wildly in our level of gustatory enjoyment, but my overall opinion of the food was very favorable. Our appetizers, miso soup and edamame, were well-prepared and arrived hot, cooked well, and liberally seasoned. The sushi and sashimi we ordered were fresh as fresh can be. The salmon sashimi was the highlight of my meal. The chunks were admittedly a bit large, but the fish was beyond fresh, with just the right amount of unctuousness, and tasted as good naked as it did with a few scant drops of soy. It was the perfect accompaniment to the fresh cucumber rolls we ordered. They were liberally stuffed with cucumber matchsticks and wrapped in a thick layer of faintly vinegary rice. They were excellent for cutting through the richness of the salmon. The Alaskan roll was ample and tasty, if not especially memorable. The spicy tuna roll, for me, was the only thing that wasn't particularly delicious. The fish was fresh and tasted good, but the spicy tuna mixture was a bit bland, and I'm being kind. It really could've used a generous dose of soy or more spice. It didn't have fabulous mouth-feel either... the spicy sauce had an almost watery texture that didn't cling to the fish very well and was unpleasant on the palette. Despite this one shortcoming, I felt the food was top-notch in quality and had obviously been prepared by someone who knows what they are doing. Will I return to Saburo's? Maybe. Like I've said before, a restaurant is a melding of food and atmosphere, and Saburo's is seriously lacking in the atmosphere department. It's also expensive. I'd expect that for the quality of the food, but the dining experience we had there was one of the worst in recent memory. I'm willing to sit in a shitty place to eat amazing food, and especially CHEAP amazing food, but there's really no excuse for the lack of service and terrible atmosphere at such a successful restaurant.

    (3)

  • Marla S.

    Tried Saburo out after reading the great reviews, and could not believe this is what everyone is raving about. 8:30pm on a Monday and had maybe a 30 min wait, fine. Atmosphere wise, not impressed: I had a lovely view near the restroom, right in front of the staging shelves/area. Our waiter was very nice and helped to pick out a good Saki. We handed in our order. Now, I read in other review the portions were big. I was definitely not prepared for the MONSTROUS pieces served. This to me was not at all enjoyable: having to take multiple bites of one sushi piece defeats the purpose of enjoying the flavor arrangement (especially for rolls). Most enjoyable was the regular sushi since it doesn't have the other ingredients. And the hand-rolls literally look like seaweed burritos. Actually for the ridiculous portions, the fish wasn't too bad. Overall, not what I enjoy in my sushi dining experience. Seems best fit for college guys, since it's cheap and they usually have huge mouths. If you like a nice, relaxed dining experience with normal size sushi: SKIP Like to shove huge chunks of fish into your mouth? go for it!

    (2)

  • Ursula G.

    decent sushi, the wait sucks, especially when there is a snow storm and you have to wait outside. wish they would remodel, or change the decor... it's very fast food-ish.

    (3)

  • Shaina S.

    Is there another sushi place in town? Their shouldn't be! This place is amazing for the price, big rolls & fresh fish for a very reasonable price per roll. If you haven't been before you will be shocked by the size of each roll. They have great tempura veggie rolls and Philadelphia Rolls for beginners. For the real sushi eaters - their Fresh Water Eel is out of this world. Nothing on the menu is bad here. AND for those of you who love small ice chunks, like sno cone ice- they have that too. The wait will most likely be an hour so make sure you check out the wine bar next door while you wait. The service there is great and they are very accomodating when you tell them you need a quick bill because your name was called next door.

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    I have been to many sushi restaurants across the country and this is the best I have had. Pros: - affordable sushi - fresh fish - the portions are HUGE! - everything is sooooo delicious because it's so fresh - extensive menu for those who don't like raw fish Cons: - definitely the wait (but it's worth it) - the sushi chefs work quickly, but the wait for the food can take a while - you can only order once - they're only open for dinner - very limited seating - parking sucks!!! - no split checks, one check per table (making it difficult for groups) Tips: - get here at least an hour early esp. on a weekend - if you're in a large group, get here even earlier! - snag a seat once you get in; one time the guy told my roommate & I that there was a table for 2 open in the back so we left the bar... there was no table and the seats we were sitting on were taken, so he made us wait until someone left for his mistake - order immediately if possible; the more orders that come in before yours, the longer the wait - you can only order once, so order extra - but don't order too much, I can get full easily off of 4 plates - if you're in a group, keep track of what you're ordering so it's easy to calculate your share later - plan to spend at least 2-3 hrs here Favorites: - Torosake (Salmon Belly--more rich than regular salmon & melts in your mouth!) - Toro (Rich Tuna--a bit fattier than the regular tuna, but more flavorful) - Unagi (Eel) - California Roll w/Real Crab

    (5)

  • Caroline T.

    Huge Huge sushi! I'm just amazed on how big everything is! I'm from CA and i don't know any sushi joint that makes sushi as if it's on steroids. i saw someone eating a handroll and it was the size of a burrito! Saburo's is a small place w. a long wait. We waited about 40 mins on a friday night. -salmon skin roll salad: not only did we get the skin, we got some of the fish in there too. it was ok; the dressing was a little creamy. -poke salad: huge pieces of tuna in the salad but there were onions galore -_- -salmon belly & hamachi sashimi: thick THICK pieces of fish! the salmon belly melted in my mouth -sweet shrimp: it was my first time trying raw shrimp and it was huge! i never eat all of the rice cus it's too filling. it was slimy but had a good texture and flavor -creamy scallop nigiri: plump scallops! -agedashi tofu: yum yum i love tofu I'm coming back one more time before i leave Oregon

    (4)

  • Cliff L.

    Sushi Awesomeness. The legendary Saburo's portion is what keeps me come back for more. In fact, this is my number #1 choice when I want some quality sushi. Speaking of quality, aside from the giant portion, the fish and seafood are very fresh. I have eaten sushi around Portland, I have to say it may be the freshest in Portland. But I do have to mention, prepare to wait a long time to be seated and your sushi to be made.

    (5)

  • Shane S.

    After a couple more visits I would like to downgrade my original rating. The nigiri is very good but the rolls are lackluster and bland. Seating is too cramped and wait too long. Its good but I would much rather go where I can sit comfortably and get a better variety.

    (3)

  • Matt S.

    I love this place and I don't care what you sushi snobs say about it. Saburo's is what it is and doesn't try to be anything more. Large portions? Oh yes Quick service? Uh, yeah, it needs to be with how long of a wait they have Friendly staff? Yup, the people there are polite and efficient Again, it is not the fanciest sushi you will ever have. But my friends and I make a regular pilgrimage to this place. It also doesn't hurt that there are plenty of bars around the area to help pass the time as you wait for your table.

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    don't be stupid and order accordingly. we ordered too much and the sushi were HUMONGOUS... i thought i'm a walking-talking-rice-munching-machine. even my stomach can't take the amount of rice... i can safely say, the cooked dishes are mediocre but the sushi are fresh and good! get the uni (sea urchin) topped with raw quail egg. dude, this hits the ball out of the park! creamy goodness!!

    (5)

  • Arcii R.

    Best sushi I've had in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, etc. Hands down. Cheap and the rolls are on steriods, the fish pieces are the size of my fist, no joke!! I have high sushi standards and this place meets them all. Fresh, affordable, delicious and fast(once you're seated) Only downside is often you have to wait 30+ minutes outside before getting a seat. I think they should expand and open another location! Must try their Hawaiian roll and spicy tuna salad. Yummy. The big O is also super good. Everything here is outstanding and well worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    If you catch this place at the right time it's the best (and most plentiful) sushi you'll ever eat.

    (4)

  • Jeff Y.

    Sometimes, you just have to accept something for what it is. Saburo doesn't pretend to be authentic (um ... they don't put cream cheese on sushi rolls in Japan), and it doesn't pretend to be the best sushi joint in town. What is it? Saburo is the gigantic, 72 ounce steak challenge of sushi restaurants. What does that mean? What it means is that instead of getting Japanese style sushi, where everything is a delicately balanced ballet bite of flavors, you get everything "American style". The portions here are all measured by the same fat guy that created the Sizzler all you can eat buffet, the 72 ounce steak that they used to serve at the Old Country Kitchen, the 12 egg omelet, and the double-double animal style. The nigiri sushi here is the equivalent of an entire fillet-o-fish slapped on a bed of rice. You wouldn't know it though, because you can't see the rice under the fillet. The rolls here are all about the same thickness as my forearm. No human can consume one piece of their rolls in one bite. In fact, word of advice, best to deconstruct the roll into individual bites. But, how is any of this a bad thing? When I feel like stuffing my insides with inordinate amounts of fresh fish at a bargain basement price, Saburo is my pick. Yes, the wait is long, but the wait is always long when people can sniff a bargain. Just check out Ben n Jerry's on free cone day. I've never had bad fish here. If you want to try something off the beaten path, get the broiled hamachi collar. The collar is the most flavorful, deliciously fatty part of the hamachi. When you broil it and serve it with a light ponzu sauce and grated daikon radish, its delicious. And cheap, since most fish markets toss the collar. Warning: the service typically sucks. Its better now. But the mama-san that used to run the "front of the house" was half soup nazi. She would yell at you, chastise you for trying to order more than once, refuse take out orders, and generally act like a frigid you know what. I still would not expect to get 5-star service here. Just wait in line for 2 hours for your table, order your sushi, eat your fish and go.

    (3)

  • Anuj K.

    Get here early and know what you want so it doesn't take an hour for your food to come out. Quality - decent Quantity - explosive Wait - at least an hour Is it worth it? Once in a while if you have a huge craving, but there's only so much that can be eaten. Take friends, then you can share!

    (3)

  • Tony X.

    Be sure to go a hour early cause most of the time there will be line. Price is fair due to the giant rolls they give you. The food there taste great and fresh but some of the rolls were a little sweet. Maybe it's cause I have small eyes but this place was hard to find.

    (4)

  • Jadyn N.

    The Best Sushi in town. Saburo's sushi is like no other. Each pieces is nice and fresh and so so good. One pieces of sushi from here is like two pieces at other sushi places. It worth the wait to eat here. You wait in line for about a hour, but I got to tell you it worth the wait. I have taken a lot of my friends here and everyone has love it. The place is small so there always a line there, but the price is good for the size of sushi you get. A good place to take people from out of town.

    (5)

  • Rob D.

    There must have been a reason why we have avoided going here for three years. I found at least five of them. Why there are hordes of people standing outside of this joint is beside me. Tonight there was nobody waiting outside at 5:07PM. I have to give two stars to the staff. They were prompt and polite. Let me also come clean here and tell you that I understand that Saburos is a big machine. Big machines are not going to be personable and extremely attentive. I am not some pathetic shit who needs to be coddled, nor do I think that the waiter is going to sit in my lap and whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Now, for an overview of one of the least impressive experiences I have ever had... First up was edamame. My advice would be SKIP this. Over steamed and salted with plain table salt. I hate to seem like an edamame snob but this was awful. Oysters are on special right now. We live dangerously a few times each year and ordered the half dozen. They arrived with a haphazard bed of ripped iceburg lettuce leaves. Each oyster was swimming in a ponzu sauce. I liked them but my oyster aficionado wife said they sucked. We then received the spicy tuna handroll. FOR THE LOVE OF... This monstrosity is wrapped in a FULL sheet of nori. Thanks a lot chef... I was feeling a little bit inadequate with that giant phallice. Too much. Next on deck was a creamy scallop roll. This was actually tasty, but again way too big. I hate to be complaining about getting MORE but this is sushi for f*ck's sake. The main course arrived. We went with the chef's choice sashimi. The first assortment was decent: yellow tail, salmon, tuna, albacore, prawn, mackerel, and snapper. The way they cut this sashimi is just odd to me. Hira Zukumi is a thick cut but this one seemed even thicker? We got that check and bolted out of there to seek refuge at a place that could serve the kind of cocktails that would help us forget... My suggestion for the hordes is to think outside the lemming box and seek out some cheap sushi from a joint that is better than Saburo's.

    (1)

  • Miwako T.

    I just had to check out this place and their sushi that are so much talked about (In general, I'm not a sushi eater). Well, this is a difficult one. I can see how people are giving this place 5 stars. Their sushi is HUGE. You get a lot more (I'd say 3 or 4 times as much) fish on their sushi vs. from other places because fish slices are large and THICK!! But, to me, the place wasn't worth 5 or 4 stars. I'd give it 3-1/2 if I could.We ordered tempura and gyoza (gyoza is REALLY deep-fried in the tempura batter, though they don't seem to tell you that in the menu. I wouldn't expect this from a Japanese restaurant.) and, though I was happy with the quantity, not the quality. I don't know what exactly is wrong. But they don't taste right. Even the sauce(s? I think they came with the same sauce) they came with were kind of plain sour (for me) and not tasty. And, no radish was served with tempura. The food felt too fastfood-like. We also ordered katudon and that was ok. Sushi Deluxe was good. The on-line menu says it comes with miso soup but it did not. The rice tasted good and my 4-year-old loved them (tamago, veg rolls). Oh, and I loved the tea this place served. Tasted like genmai tea (but didn't see any grain in it). Also, friendly waiter too. The decor seems more "down to earth" or "modern" or whatever. They have kabuki posters along the wall and they are framed in those plastic frames. They have a neat sushi wallclock on the wall. .. But all of this somehow didn't give me the feel that I was in a Japanese restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kevin B.

    From the nightly lines outside Saburo's, it's clear that the people of Portland have spoken. They love cheap, mammoth portions of sushi and they don't care what it tastes like! Whenever I see that two hour long line outside of this Sellwood-Moreland area Japanese joint I want to slap everyone out of their trance-like state and remind them of two things. 1. Less is more. There's something pretty gross about a giant slab of raw fish in your mouth. Sushi was always meant to be small and precious. That's why the chefs have knives. So they can cut the fist up before they serve it to you. If I wanted to eat an entire raw fish, I'd just go cave man style, and grab one out of the river with my bare hands. Gnaw on it right there by the river. Right next to where I pooped a few seconds before. But I can see where being the Claim Jumper of sushi would have a lot of appeal in this down economy. There's nothing like a doggy bag of rotting fish on a hot summer night. Goes really well with Dairy Queen. 2. Cheap sushi sounds like a great idea until you really think about what that means. If it's cheap for you, it means that Saburo's paid even less for it. Once again...this fish is RAW. That means uncooked. I kinda don't want to put the super cheap raw crap in my mouth. With sushi, sometimes it pays to pay a little more. Although not always. Had plenty of sucky expensive sushi in my time so I get why people line up for massive piles of raw fish at rock bottom prices. Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of Saburo's. Reasonably priced sushi in a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. But that's not what this is. This is sushi for people that don't know better and that have been conditioned by Cheesecake Factory to think that if you didn't get served enough food for a family of six people, you got ripped off. Oh. And what about the line up? Who's gonna nip this whole makin' people wait outside their restaurant trend in Portland? It's just F-ing food for god's sake.

    (2)

  • Kat N.

    Finally able to try this place out after weeks and weeks of hearing my cousin talk about it. I had tried them via take out, but wanted to see if it was better if you ate there. It was good. Not AMAZING, but what they lacked in quality they made up for in quantity. We managed to to be 2nd in line, but there was still an hour to go. A couple of people in the group decided to hold our spot while the rest of us crossed the street to get our drink on. I honestly can't remember anything that really stood out, but I do remember the raw oysters tasting really fresh and clean. I also tried uni for the first time and I don't know if it was just a bad spot to try it, but it tasted soooo nasty. I almost threw up. I really wanted to spit it out, but I figured that would be impolite. I almost want to try it again at a better place, but what if it still tastes like sea shit? We'll have to see. Overall, Saburo's is great if you want big, cheap sushi. Just be prepared to wait. And wait. And wait...

    (3)

  • mia l.

    This place is great. Great prices, great portions, and great food. The sashimi is fresh and they have great dishes! The only drawbacks though - whenever it's a holiday (like winterbreak), they aren't open. So it's always impossible for me to bring my friends here when we return to Portland to visit.

    (5)

  • Lily L.

    So we got there 30 minutes before opening! (huge line) we were by the garbage area when we lined up. Got in 2 HOURS later. so during the 2 hours, we walked around qfc( so tempted to just buy food cause we were hungry already!, the antique shop (thrif store) and talked to neigboring people about the long wait.. So we got seated. waitress/waiter came by 10 minutes later. we got our first plate of sushi 5 minutes later since we all order the big o roll. ( I recommend it) so saburos made a batch of it. After that it took 20 minutes then another 20 mins for the rest to come out. Con: -you cant take "to go", just get boxes at the end. -the graditude charge. (16 dollars for 5 people) and honestly Mcdonalds has better service then the people working. need wasabi?- too bad for you, need a box, wait 10 minutes + - no parking, so good luck with finding street parking which isnt too horrible but hard to find. - the seared salmon is reallly really fishy X.x -their back dining room forces you to cross the small kitchen area - lack of privacy, the tables were serisouly less than a feet from each other - the sushi doesnt fall apart, but it is hard to pick up, the rice is too sticky to the plate and each other! Random: -4 chefs, 1 is asian, the rest is mexican - all waiters and disherwashers are mexican - the miso soup comes out of a machine (like those coffee machines where you find at a gas station, hold this button, it comes out.) - you can only order once, so make up your mind!! - you cant really split the bill, 2 debit/credit cards per a table. This place is for people.. - who have time - dont have little kids ( so many kids whined and hated the wait) - arent disable/wheelchair (sorry the place is small and crowded) - who have less than 4 people, since it takes forever for a party of 6+ to get in. - who have some money, plan on atleast 15-20 per person Why the low rating? It's not authentic.( I had better, I am not Japanese but I can tell you it's not authentic..) It's edible, but I wouldnt get cravins about it. There's not much to praise about it.

    (1)

  • Matthew R.

    We love Saburo's! It will be a "must" stop the next time we are out in Portland. The food is fantastic and the portions are large. This isn't a place to go for the ambiance - but that's not what my wife and I really care about (We'd rather a restaurant invest in the food, not the decorations). I see a lot of complaints about the wait times, and that's a fair criticism. Luckily, we were told of this ahead of time and arrived early. We arrived at 4:30 and were already on a decent line, but we were seated immediately when they opened the doors at 5:00. If you are looking to eat at 6:30 or 7:00, you will likely be waiting a looong time - but we had no problems with the wait, since we knew what to expect going in. My wife was not a big eater of fish or sushi prior to our trip to Portland, and Saburo's made a sushi lover out of her.

    (5)

  • Ari K.

    By far the best Sushi I've ever had. A few things to watch out for though. One, the wait is about an hour minimum. This can be a good thing, what I like to do is write my name down on the list and go to The Cosmo Lounge across the street where they have dollar jello shots, just don't drink the egg nog, turns out to be a bad combo with the sushi. You don't have to worry about missing your spot because they'll call you when your turn is up. The other thing is that their portions are much larger than I am used to for sushi. Three rolls for two people is plenty. Also the Big Ol Roll, while tasty, can ruin your appetite for the rest of the meal.

    (5)

  • Josh G.

    I have been coming to Saburo's for over 4 years. I have eaten at sushi restaurants all over the country and the world (London, Turkey, Poland, LA, Seattle, New York, and many many more). There is no place I've been that compares to Saburo's. The quantity to quality ratio is extremely high. The rolls are so huge that the biggest mouth couldn't take them down in one bite. This is why I mostly forgo the rolls for the nigiri, and the sashimi. Also, try the fried tofu, it's the bomb diggity. Try the salmon belly nigiri too. I know the 45 minute+ wait sucks but now they take phone numbers on their list (they will call you and give you a chance to show up!). I just drive over an hour before I want to eat and put my name on the list. I plan to have a few drinks elsewhere and go back. TL;DR Order the Salmon Belly Nigiri and Fried Tofu Appetizer. Show up 45 minutes before you want to eat, and then go have drinks elsewhere.

    (5)

  • Hieu T.

    The wait sucks. Wait, what? My party arrived a half an hour prior to opening on a Wednesday night. Unsurprisingly, there was a line that wrapped around the corner of the building, but luckily enough we were there just enough to get in as the first group to fill the restaurant. 5 o'clock hits and we're in. We opted for the table in the very front by the door and window. Much to our dismay, the waiting patrons who did not get in right away bunched up in the 4'x4' waiting area sometimes spilling into the dining areas. Not only that, some of them have the tenacity to leave the door open while we were eating. Seriously, you guys who bunch up at the door and bump into the people sitting down are morons. Same goes for the tards constantly opening the door for no real reason. The food was brought out at a terrible pace and our drinks were consistently empty. S'pose that's what we get for being the first bunch. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut! The food tasted phenomenal. The sashimi was fresh and smooth. The rolls were large and flavorful. They were packed tight and shaped skillfully. YUM. YUM. YUM! Of course, I definitely am overlooking the horrid wait, stupid inconsiderate customers and slow and inattentive waiters/waitresses, I've come to the realization that Saburo's has and most likely will ALWAYS be this way. Anybody who has gone multiple times will tell you the exact same thing...the wait sucks. Then again, the wait only sucks because the food is so darn mouthwatering and delicious. Who can blame them? Saburo's is definitely a restaurant that separates itself from the rest, not necessarily out of quality, but out of culture and charm. By no means am I discounting the quality of the food here, but I'm one to believe that we are to judge a restaurant on what and how it actually is versus what it is compared to your X and/or Y restaurants. The wait is always going to be long no matter when you go. And if you don't want to wait, good riddance because I'll gladly take your seat. :)

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    Simple... when I go out with the wife for great sushi, I got to Saburo's for quality and price. When I need to be pretentious for clients, I go elsewhere and spend more than I should. Saburo's is worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Scott L.

    This is a very enthusiastic A-OK, mind you. My wife and I came her on a recommendation. We're out-of-towners visiting from SF so we have a higher standard for our fish. You simply can't beat how fresh the fish is in SF. With that, we came here with lowered expectations but also expecting a crowd. We sat at the bar on a crowded Sunday night. We ordered 2 rolls, gyoza, and a chef's sashimi plate. 1. The rolls here are big and generous. Big points for the rolls. 2. The gyoza was battered in tempura and deep-fried. We were not expecting this and mildly disappointed. 3. The sashimi plate was good but I felt like a majority of the fish was not fresh. It tasted a bit funny. My wife quipped that we would come here often if we lived in Portland. We probably would but we'd probably get the rolls more often instead of the fish.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    I should have known I was getting into something special when the bus driver asked me, when exiting the bus, "So, are you going to the sushi place? Everyone is always on this bus going to the sushi place." When walking by and seeing the huge wait outside, his enthusiasm was reiterated by the patiently-waiting patrons. I returned an hour and a half later with no line... and my expectations were met. Portions are GIGANTIC, cost is unbelievably minimal, and the food is quite good. The Hawaiian Roll wasn't anything to write home about (I've had much better spicy tuna), but the eel-avocado was some of the best I've ever had! Avocado was perfectly ripe and the eel was soft, sweet, and almost buttery. Plus, glasses of wine for $2.50 and incredibly nice patrons making conversation at the sushi bar? Saburo is a big win. No doubt, you will be served the largest pieces of sushi in your life at Saburo!

    (4)

  • C T.

    After hitting a couple of buckets from the range down the street, I needed to refuel myself with something nice and warm (since it was raining outside). I am not much of a sushi fan, but I do like my udon and ramen. So my friend and I decided to stop in and grab a quick bite. Luckily for us, the wait wasn't too long. He had a sampler plate filled with big pieces of sushi. I had the udon and the fried gyoza. It is true what they say, anything that is deep fried, tastes sooo much better. The udon was also pretty good. It was served in the claypot, thus keeping the heat in longer. The decor is nothing fancy, the servers were attentive to our needs, and the price was reasonable

    (4)

  • Becky L.

    I come here on a weekly basis. I always make sure to order 2 sets of sashimi (salmon and yellow tail) and half order of oysters. Of course I order much more, but those are my favorite dishes at Saburos! The line sucks, but it's totally worth it.

    (5)

  • Tim T.

    Food taste excellent. The quantity is great. You can't find a cheap and yet quality Sushi, except Saburo. I took one star off, because the service sucks. They would not automatically fill your water or tea up, unless you keep calling them. And then the wait is lonooooonng.

    (4)

  • Renae S.

    very good and very fresh!! im more of a roll fan than a sushi fan .I did see plates of sushi going by and well...they didnt look that good. The pieces of fish on them were huge! you honestly have to cut them in half to eat each piece. the roll i had was very good though, it was a special they had. i will definately go back but not if im starving because 99% of the time theres a huge wait.

    (4)

  • Jim C.

    I live near Saburo's and almost every night, I see huge lines of folks waiting to get in. They start around 4:30, even before the restaurant opens and last until 9. Clearly, this place has loyal, devoted followers, who are willing to endure a wait of an hour or more to eat here. I find this baffling, because the place really isn't that great. Oh, sure, the portions are huge. Gonzo-huge. Like--- nigiri pieces that are four inches long-- and rolls that are two inches wide. And, the cost is pretty low, as sushi goes (which does make me wonder how exactly it is that they can afford to give such huge pieces). My wife and I have eaten their three times for dinner and left more than sated for about $30. But... the thing is, the sushi itself isn't that good. It's not *bad* mind you. But, it's just kind of... OK. The rolls aren't very creative, the fish doesn't glisten and pop with super-freshness (the scallops I got last night, for instance, lacked the sweetness I usually associate with scallops... they just seemed kind of bland and squishy, like they'd been sitting in the fridge for a while), and the rice seems heavy, with too much moisture in it. Also, I have to say the service here is pretty unfriendly. It's not outright rude-- but it's clear that the staff has the goal of taking your order ASAP, bringing it to you, and then rushing you out as quickly as possible. I can understand them wanting to turn tables around, but it's just rushed and mechanical. For example, last night, we ordered a bottle of sake. The server brought it to our table, plopped it and the cups down loudly, and them whizzed away, leaving it for us to open and pour. Whenever a server brought something (the sake, the food, the tea, the checks) and we said "Thank you" we didn't even get an acknowledgement. In short, if you've got a craving for sushi and your main concern is maximizing the quantity-to-cost ratio-- Saburo's may be the place for you. It will fill your craving and stuff it to the gills, and then stuff it a little more. But if you're looking for something a bit more creative, or elegant, or fresher, or higher quality-- or if you care about friendly service and nice ambience-- there are definitely better places to go. For other places nearby in the SE, I'd recommend Tani's on Woodstock or Sushi Maza on Division.

    (2)

  • Sean M.

    The sushi was great, but the damn wait was long...I guess you just need to make sure you get there early. The portions are huge as far as the sushi goes. I gurantee you wont get jipped on portions. Very packed and overall the sush was worth the wait!!!

    (4)

  • Maricris F.

    This place is one of a kind place. It's not no fancy place either. It is not a place where you can make reservations. The price and quality of the seafood served here is is pretty good. I mean they are pretty big portions for a decent price. The only problem is that you have to wait a very long time just to get in. But it is well worth the wai.

    (4)

  • Jay Y.

    Solid 4 star establishment.. -very affordable -HUGE cuts of sashimi/nigiri and rolls, (2-3 bite minimum) -solid sushi, not the absolute best, but very worth the amount you're paying -Plus, they offered Sapporo and Kirin on tap, which makes me a happy boy. My Experience: -earlier today at around 6p, I had to wait about an hour for a party of two... go there early!!! at least an hour before you plan on eating -for two (hungry) people, we ordered 5 nigiri pleates (eel, bluefin tuna, yellowtail, creamy scallop, and salmon) and 2 rolls (budokhan and spider, which is soft shell crab..mmmm) --Favorite: Yellowtail - it was soft and buttery, nice clean flavor --Least Fav: (aside from eel.. I'm just not a fan) Bluefin Tuna - IMO, it was just not worth the high premium. The taste was a little off, kind of old.. perhaps its not very popular and so its been shelved for a while, I don't know. -As a result, we were absolutely stuffed. We both had to cut off about half the rice from each nigiri and roll piece.. it was just too much. Though, we were both in a state of euphoria. All in all, I really enjoyed the food and the place. Its small and cozy, which is why it takes so long to get in, but its got a pretty good vibe. I am definitely a fan!

    (4)

  • H.V. P.

    This was my second time at Saburo. My girlfriend and I were driving to Seattle, WA from Sacramento, CA and decided we wanted to eat here. It opens at 5pm and when we got there at 5:30pm, there was still a big line outside. I walked in to get a menu and saw a few empty tables, then walked back out. We were seated about 15minutes later and ordered the Assorted sashimi platter (7 chef's choice sashimi, a california roll, and miso soup), a karate roll, a sunset roll, and two uni. The sashimi were salmon, tuna, tamago (sweet egg omelete), ebi, squid, and hamachi. My favorite thing about this place is the amazing size of the sushi! yum! never have i seen sushi so big. The price is very cheap considering the size of the fish slices they put in the sushi. You might be concern with how to bite into each piece, but unlike most sushi, the seaweed that they use rips easily. That way, its easier to take multiple bites. The service was really good. I felt bad for calling them over so many times to fill up our tea, but after about the third fill, they got the idea. I did notice that there were a few empty tables while there were still people waiting outside. I don't remember seeing all the tables being filled at one particular time. Tactics? who knows? The sashimi was really good. pretty soft. A lot fresher than one would think since each pieces were so big. **EDIT: Considering that I have had uni prepared in front of my eyes straight from sea urchin, I would say I know what a fresh, delicious uni taste like. From experience, most uni that I have had typically range within a yellow (ligt to dark) color, the ones I had at Saburo's were more along of a brownish. Considering that, I concluded that the uni was not fresh when I tried it at Saburo. Who knows, brown could be normal for uni, I've just never seen it. Our total came to just under $30 for two people. a fair price for the amount of food and satisfaction.

    (4)

  • Darcie S.

    Biggest sushi ever! The place isn't fancy and you are going to wait 30+ mins, but I thought the fish was of good quality, the food is nicely presented and once we ordered, we didn't have to wait long for our food. Service was nice. Definitely need to try this place. We happened to go on a Monday night and only wait for 10 minutes.

    (4)

  • T V.

    I don't even care if it's authentic - Saburo's is that good. The rolls are ginormous and flavorful; the fish is always fresh. I think the sashimi is cut a little too thickly and it's awkward to eat sushi that you can't fit in your mouth in one bite. But it's a great place for friends. Super casual and the decor is... lacking, but that's not why you come to Saburo's anyway. The service is good, considering how busy it always is and sometimes it seems like they just wanna shuffle you out. It's also typically a 30-45 minute wait (once we waited almost 2 hours!) so we sometimes head up to get a frap at the Starbucks nearby or take a walk to work up our appetite. Don't get too caught up on authenticity and you'll love this place.

    (5)

  • William J.

    This is a pretty good Sushi place located in the SE part of Portland. Expect long waits (up to 2 hours) especially on weekend nights. The tempura is good and the portions are huge compared to your usual sushi place. The salmon on their nigiris are so big that they hang lazily off the edges of the rice. The fish tastes really fresh and the unagi is well-cooked. My favorite is the creamy scallop roll. It's a must try there. My only complaint is the service. I understand it's busy and there are people waiting but I really do feel like I'm being pushed out the door as soon as I am seated. One time, we asked for iced water and the ?manager? commented that they stopped serving iced water to save money on their water bill in a dry tone. Hopefully joking, but we still didn't get the iced water. I guess customer service is optional there.

    (4)

  • Lisa O.

    Ok firstly, i am a HUGE sushi snob. If sushi is not expensive I wont eat it, thinking that the quality has to be horrible. Saburo proved me wrong. I came in here and ordered like I usually do....the portions are about 4 times as large as normal sushi. And they do not just put extra rice oh no they quadruple the actual SUSHI....and the sushi taste great, fresh....I mean I do not understand how they afford it. I left sushi feeling STUFFED, happy and fantastic! The only downside to this is the service is average and the weight is soooo long but oh so worth it. Overall if you are a sushi fan, do not mind a long weight and do not want to blow to much cash come here you wont be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Amber B.

    I went back again today with a couple of friends, and the food was basically how I remembered it. One friend never had sushi previously (She thought it was weird), and decided she didn't like it, and the other had been there with me before. My total was $16 and I paid with a $20 bill, instead of giving me my change back they used it as a "tip" without my permission, and gave me a nice little piece of paper saying so. I said "fine". I'm not going back.

    (1)

  • Kara T.

    This place is a hit or miss kinda deal. You will always have to wait in line, sometimes the sushi is amazingly fresh and sometimes the rice is undercooked and the fish is almost on the brink of being bad, but the portions always crazy huge!!!! The udon noodles always super yummy! The grilled yellowtail collar melts in your mouth. The service is always fast and furious with a smile!! I love it and there's really nothing like it in Portland, where else can you possibly get 10lbs worth of sushi for 50 bucks?!

    (4)

  • Jenna S.

    I just moved back to Portland from Tokyo, and I missed Saburo's while I was there...that is how much I love this restaurant!!! The wait is ridiculously long especially if you go with more than 2 people...but the key is make friends with the staff...they will bend over backwards for you if you become a true regular. I have had them bend rules for me a lot... Then you can zip around the corner to the Lime Light bar while you wait. Sitting outside salivating through the window for 1+ hours is for the amateurs, now its just a part of the tradition to go to the limelight for a tasty pre-sushi-funking cocktail. By the end of it your liquored up, sushi-ed out, and rolling out the door with leftovers. My favorites on the menu by far best thing ever: hawaiian roll ... rolled in cucumber a spicy tuna filling..... Salmon nigiri, albacore nigiri, unagi nigiri (although eat it as soon as it comes out while its warm or it gets rubbery), Oh and the pink bottle of cold Nigori sake. The bottle is really cool and the sake is my favorite!. But be careful, this place can spoil you...once you stuff yourself for $10 with leftovers, its hard to go to other places where you drop $20+ and don't get nearly as much.

    (5)

  • Johnny V.

    It's a shame you can't eat here without a line, and feeling you're getting rushed out, to seat other people waiting in line. It's a great sushi place, though. You can eat fish like a crazed pelican, and get full for a reasonable price.

    (5)

  • Suzy S.

    The first time I went here, I had just moved to Portland and when I did a search found this to be one of the closer places. I called to order some to-go and the hostess answered. She basically told me to come in and order, and hung up on me. Fine....OK....I'll come in. So in I went to this super crowded restaurant, with no sign out front, next door to a shoe repair shop. I did my best to stand out of the way while I waited. Busy employees zoomed past me, nearly knocking me over while I thought, "NEVER again will I eat here!!". Finally my order was ready and I drove my few miles home in a snit. When I saw the size of the portions I was shocked, but hey, size isn't everything. One bite into the fresh Hamachi, and I was sold. The flavor and texture was amazing! OK, fine, they do that well, but what about the rest? The rest was just as amazing. I was a devoted customer. I learned to plan for the wait, and wait I did- usually in the rain. I became a weekly visitor and eventually I wore the terse hostess down. She would actually smile and say hello to me, comment on my hair cuts, and show me warmth and kindness. Never did she show me any favoritism, nor did I expect her to, but I loved the looks of disbelief from other patrons when they watched us quickly chit chat. I felt like Kramer and the Soup Nazi.

    (5)

  • Nicole L.

    In my book, you can't get any better quality for the price!! Yes, if you go there at the wrong time, you'll be stuck in line for 45 mins or more, but if you hit it just right you can get right in. If you want to be stuffed with sushi and you're on a budget, I highly recommend you check out Saburos.

    (5)

  • Christopher A.

    Wow! I've lived in Japan for four years and thought I'd seen everything sushi-wise. But I have to say that Saburo's bowled me over. It is quite simply the largest servings of nigiri-zushi I have ever seen. Not only are they brimming over the edges of the rice, the cuts are thick and absolutely succulent. The quality of the fish itself is amazing and served at the perfect temperature to enhance flavor. It is best to arrive at 4:30 or so if you don't want to wait in line. When the doors open pretty much everyone there is seated very quickly. But because so many people love this restaurant, arriving any other time usually results in a stomach churning wait. Saburo's has changed the way I think of sushi. I'm spoiled for life.

    (5)

  • Joowon K.

    Huge sushi but disgusting. Sooo disappointed.

    (1)

  • Annette V.

    Not my cup of soy sauce. The wait is super long, portions are strangely HUGE and not that flavorful, and the tables are so close that you feel like you're intruding on the next table's conversation! The tuna is a strange hot pink color I'm not used to seeing and as I'm eating the Unagi, I can't help but wonder how large this eel must have been for this slice to be as big as a snack sized snickers bar! Overall, I feel this sushi is better photographed than consumed. The pictures are gorgeous, but my stomach would prefer to go elsewhere- without the wait.

    (2)

  • Bella L.

    HUGE sushi! I'm a totally a fan of Saburo's. The portions are huge for its price and freshness/quality of fish is excellent. I'm not sure why some reviews would say that the fish is not fresh. If that's the case, then Saburo's is overpriced and should not be making sushi. Anyways, 5-6 orders take up a 14 inch plate so we always have leftovers. Every time my hubby and I come here, I always make it a point to take a picture and post it on my FB. It looks like a piece of art!

    (4)

  • Maggie L.

    This place is definitely going downhill in service! I have been there a few times and this will be the last, I will not be going back. All the hassle of waiting in line then to be treated without any service at all is preposterous! To top it off, make sure you check you bill before you pay - they added one item I didn't order and didn't take away an item that they were out! After spending over $100..... I will go somewhere else for my sushi!

    (1)

  • Jarrett B.

    Omgeez, its like a sushi dream I love itttt. It was like my bed was made of unagi and my pillows were made of salmon belly, i have night shivers remembering the taste on my tongue. I would go back here in a heartbeat. They pushed me out since they were so busy on a Sunday night, but they let me order take out, so fortunately I didn't have to go hulk smash on their establishment. I love you Saburo

    (4)

  • Joyce F.

    Kind of surprised to see ratings lower than 3 stars for Saburos. Yes the annoying part is the looong wait, but when you finally get seated the wait is so worth it. The seafood is super fresh and they aren't stingy about their portions at all (like most sushi restaurants are). Salmon is definitely one of the best, but my favorite is the soft shelled crabs. The seafood is so fresh and full of flavor. Definitely one of my favorite sushi restaurants.

    (4)

  • kelly c.

    It's true: the pieces and rolls are huge. The quality, however, leaves much to be desired. The fish just doesn't taste fresh. Somehow, when I lived in Sellwood and ate hear every Thursday night, the quality thing didn't get to me. Now that I have reduced my dosage, though, it's unlikely I will ever go back to being a Saburo's addict. Once you find good quality fish, you just can't go back to 3-star sushi even if it is HUGE. I can't dis on these folks too much, because the agedashi tofu is d-lish and they make some yummy vegetempura.

    (3)

  • Kelly M.

    Saburo's is my favorite sushi in town. Avocado maki is my favorite, and their enormous rolls are overflowing with avocado! For a couple bucks you can get twice as much sushi as at other places because the rolls are twice the size. Other yelpers have complained that the fish doesn't measure up in quality to the generous portions, but if you're vegetarian, it's the best sushi in town. One word of warning--EXPECT A WAIT. People generally start lining up before they even open!

    (5)

  • Anastasia K.

    Impressive, I won't belabor the point, enough people have already said that you get your money's worth with some damn good sushi. Worth every penny and the 1/2 hour wait. Delicious, well priced, no nonsense. Love it and will come back anytime I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Nita G.

    One of my favorite sushi spots. Excellent sushi and larger portions than you'll get elsewhere for lower prices than other quality sushi places. We ordered way too much our first visit and could barely finish; start off with a conservative order! The wait can be really long so be sure to plan ahead and show up before you're hungry!

    (5)

  • Richard R.

    Arrived at Saburo's @ 6:00 on a Thursday evening. Place was pretty packed, but we took 2 seats at the bar in front of Honorable Sushi Kitty (you'll know it when you see it). Some larger groups had to wait, but not too long (so quit your complaining inpatient ones). I started eating Sushi about 5 years ago when I lived in California. Hell, I'm from Ohio what do you want from me? I've had all types of sushi at all types of prices. Saburo's is probably my favorite sushi place ever. Sorry to any of Saburo's haters, but my palette can't tell any difference in the quality of the sushi nor can it tell which body of water my fish came from, or the genealogy of my fish. Also, (sorry again) but I'm not willing to pay over a Bunk Sandwich times 15 for my sushi anymore (been there, done that). I'll just be really really happy to sit in front of Honorable Sushi Kitty and eat my over-sized portions (with my hands if I must) of delicious sushi for a great price @ Saburo's. $40 (before tip) and I'm eating leftovers for lunch today - who's a happy boy? Me, me! By the way, Saburo's is closed from 5 -7 on Weekdays effective today 3/13/2009. Kidding of course, but I had to try to keep the crowds down!

    (5)

  • Kira J.

    Delicious, simple, sushi. Moderate price, unreal portions. Lots of hype, long lines, but still worth a 30-45 minute wait. Venue is not anything special but the value is great.

    (4)

  • Leo I.

    First time I went there was in 1996. Have returned here multiple times since then. It's one of the top-10 sushi places I've visiting across the country. Right up there with Toyoda in Seattle, Sushi Ota in San Diego, Sasabune in Honolulu (don't bother with the LA store), and Kuni's in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Rachelle S.

    Mr. Saburo-san I have written poetry about how generous and fresh your sushi is. I know this because my close friend is his sushi fish distributor. The pieces are huge and delectable. Mr. Saburo himself is always there preparing the sushi. He truly loves what he does and strives to please his customers. The sushi is YUM and reflects his dedication to his work. This place is so worth the wait! The mackerel, salmon, tuna, yellow tail, etc all fantastic! I always recommend this place and it is my fav sushi place!

    (5)

  • lena t.

    i loved this place... i thought the prices were so good and my favorite roll was the Hawaiian roil... mmmmm delish... I don't even think that Yoko's is as good... and I've been there many times and I don't like it as much as Saburo's Sushi House... And yes the wait is an hour but it's worth it

    (5)

  • Christopher T.

    Been here a few times now. The sushi is very good. As others have mentioned the nigiri is very large. The rolls are crazy big. However, everything is fresh, the selection is great, and the service is good. Be prepared to wait for a table. Always crowded when I have been there.

    (4)

  • Michael F.

    The sushi here is awesome. The cuts are huge and the prices are so reasonable. This is an authentic japanese-run sushi bar that provides great cuts of high quality fish for great prices. You must get there early as they don't take reservations and you may find yourself stuck in an hour long line.

    (5)

  • Grace K.

    A few years ago, my parents and brother sadly moved to Oregon to escape California job shortage, ridiculous real estate, and smog/smug. It depressed me for a few months but thanks to Saburo, their move is slightly sweeter. I will be the first to admit that I am in no way an Oregonian or even an Oregon enthusiast. I love California. I'll even gladly take my sales tax so long as I can stay here. But God help me, what I would do for someone to plop a Saburo somewhere closer to me! Our usual routine is to show up around 4:30 to get a decent spot in line (usually Mom or Dad sits with a deck of cards and starts up a game of black jack with other Saburo devotees) then check out the little stores nearby until we can get in, put our eatin' dresses on, and begin to gorge. I'm sure sushi purists would want to gouge out their eyes and sew them shut in hopes of never having to see something as atrocious as the bastardization of sushi that occurs here. Still, the giant (and I mean HUGE) rolls are a godsend for those who just want some yum yum in their tum tum. Besides... no sushi roll, no matter how large, is as big of a bastardization of sushi unless cream cheese is added to it. *shudder*

    (4)

  • Tim C.

    I love this place. Yes the wait is long. Very long. Tonight I waited 1.5 hours. There are some who believe that sushi should fit easily into your mouth, and that is totally fair. But dude, I'm not one of those people, and when presented with the opportunity to get my bang for my buck with huuuge pieces of sushi for the money, I can't turn that down. The only thing that would prevent me from being a regular (aside of the fact that I live in California...) is the wait. If you go with friends, I recommend you order just a little more than you think you can eat. :-).

    (4)

  • apollo o.

    1 hour and 45 minutes waiting outside in the rain ! They should have more covered waiting area for the customer waiting like forever! we got there at 7:15, got seat at 9:00 sunday. we had no car so had to wait outside on the street in the cold rain for 105 minutes! there are only 4 chairs inside, no space for standing to wait, we have to keep standing around dirty parking lot or the garbage cans for a loooooooooooong time.the owner of Saburo's doen't care about customers at all. they thought that letting us wait outside for long time and making a long line is a very effective flackery for free!!! Sushi is not worth to the wait at all. Don't stand on the raining street for NOT FRESH SUSHI just ONLY HUGE.

    (1)

  • Julie D.

    The hubby and I must have gotten LUCKY! There was maybe a 2min wait when we went. We were seated promptly and the place wasn't very full at all. I couldn't have anything raw at the time due to being preggo. But I was SUPER happy with the udon and spider rolls. I also took a small bite of my husbands tuna sashimi salad. Which was to DIE for. I can't wait to go back and actually eat the raw stuff.

    (5)

  • Eric D.

    My first time there yesterday and it was excellent! We got there just before 6pm and we didn't have to wait at all. As we were leaving, the line was out the door! The portion is huge! Their one piece of nigiri is probably about 2 to 3x of normal size. Definitely try it if you are in Portland area!

    (4)

  • Krit U.

    Went there 5 years ago and left without eating anything because of the extremely bad service. Let's say I'm a waiter and a restaurant owner, and I have never seen anything this rude before. I know customers can be stupid sometimes. I still deal with those daily. But no they didn't have to be that rude. Anyway my friends dragged me back there recently. I found out that the food was actually amazing. To be honest, you guys ruin my first impression. Normally I would have given it a 1, but great food so a 2 sound a little more reasonable.

    (2)

  • Shirley C.

    OK, we decided to go to Saburo's because there is always a long line whenever we have passed by and one of my work acquaintances said they always go there for sushi. We put our names on the waiting list and sat down on the outside bench. I decided to pull up the review on Yelp to see what everyone else was saying. Hmmmm....very mixed reviews, people either loved it or they hated it. There were no reviews that were middle of the road. We got seated fairly quickly, the place is fairly small but they seem to have a pretty good system in place to keep things moving. We decided to order the same things we normally do at sushi restaurants so we could have a fair comparison. Miso, unagi, yellowtail, salmon, tuna, gyoza and one of their speciality rolls.... Our drinks and miso arrived very quickly, the miso was very good but the draft sapporo was a little bitter. The sushi arrived soon after we finished our miso. HOLY COW, each piece of sushi had 1/2 a fillet of fish on it. I have never seen anything like it! If we had known, we would not have ordered that much food. The pieces were so big, I had to tear pieces of the unagi off so I could lift the sushi off of the plate. When I went to dip it into the soy sauce, the rice fell apart into the dipping bowl so I had this nasty mess of rice, soy sauce and wasabi at the bottom. The eel had an OK flavor but it was so thick that the texture was not right so it almost made me gag. The salmon did not seem as fresh as it should be and it had grey spots on it OK, I decided to give up on the sushi and wait for the gyoza. I have never had a gyoza that I have not liked....until now. Tempura battered gyoza?!?! What the #@$? OK, I like tempura, I like gyoza, this may be awesome, I pray it is awesome because the sushi was a bust. No such luck, the tempura just makes it a big battered mess and the dipping sauce has a bitter taste to it. How could my normal rules on choosing restaurants go so wrong? My rule is, if you see long lines outside a restaurant every time you drive by and.also, if you talk with a friend and they give it a thumbs up, you are golden. I am going to have to rethink this strategy...... Bottom line is, if you only care about the size of the portions, this place is awesome. If you care about the flavor and quality of the fish, please reconsider the dining choice. I debated on giving this restaurant 1 or 2 stars. I had to settle on 1 star because it is all about the food, the service was good, the amount of food was generous but the flavor and quality of the food is what it is all about.

    (1)

  • Ino G.

    As stated in a review below, quantity at the cost of quality. Sushi making and presentation is an art that makes the user appreciate it. It definitely does not happen here and I won't be back! Sorry.

    (1)

  • Mike W.

    I can't add anything more than what was said. I went, I loved, I had a G-R-E-A-T time. I did have a huge beer and Sake' to match along with my huge Unagi. Yum.

    (4)

  • Lyle M.

    I came to Saburo's while on vacation back in summer of 2006, and I was blown away. When I moved to Portland in summer of 2008, I started frequenting it on a regular basis. After several visits, I have to say that the novelty has worn off. Don't get me wrong - the place is good, the rolls are huge, and it's very inexpensive (2 people can stuff themselves for less than $20). But after half a dozen visits in three months, I seem to have run the gamut of different rolls that I want to try, and my past few experiences with the Unagi roll have been less than thrilling. The pieces are also obnoxiously big, so much so that there are times you just have to say the hell with it and use your fingers instead of chopsticks. It tastes good, but it's not "to-die-for" delicious; I've had better sushi back in Maryland. I'll still come here occasionally for some cheap, quick sushi, but I'll be looking elsewhere for that elusive "to-die-for" sushi experience. UPDATE 2/1/2009 - Saburo's has redeemed itself in my eyes, and I've grown to love it again. I just won't get the Unagi roll anymore, but their Spicy Tuna roll is absolutely delicious!

    (4)

  • Simon L.

    Run for your lives! It's the attack of the humongous sushi! Generous portions here, the sushi chefs don't hold anything back. Above average sushi but not the greatest. It's a great place to get decent sushi and a lot of bang for your buck. The only thing I don't like about this place is that it is verrrrrry small and there is almost always a long line. Overall a good experience.

    (3)

  • Angelique H.

    I could not love this restaurant more. It is hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. The sushi is fresh, with large portions and is super cheap. Make sure you put your name on the list and are ready for a wait. It is worth it!

    (5)

  • Aaron V.

    Great sushi. Very small and very popular, so show up early and be prepared to wait (a while). These are the biggest pieces of sushi that I've ever seen! Unless you want leftovers, back off the quantity a little. Parking is really limited, too.

    (3)

  • Tito N.

    Saburo remains one of my favorite sushi house in Portland. Always dependable to serve the freshest, delectable sushi in a huge serving size, you can also count on the line in the small restaurant to be extremely long. I came on a Tuesday night and waited from 7 to 9. If you can be patient, their salmon skin salad is one of the best.

    (4)

  • T L.

    This is the restaurant I have to go every time I visit Portland. Love the "quantity" of the food. The price reflects quality as well. The waiting line is as long as at DMV but they don't give you the number. So, put your name on the waiting list and go for a walk in the cute neighborhood. You need it before you eat

    (4)

  • Nick T.

    Great place for the locals around town but great for those who want to try out this place who are out of town this sushi here is the best and size for the value! Highly recommend, please note waiting list is full during business hour be prepared to come early and wait cause this place is fantastic! A+

    (5)

  • Cass T.

    My significant person and I moved here from L.A. and we were very excited to find Saburo's: it actually seems somewhat authentic and it's well priced. We went to Saburo's once and then enthusiastic about our find, went back a week later. The first time was great, with ok service, but when we went back a second time we waited an hour to get in, on a Sunday - and this is getting there at 5:20 pm. After we were seated, we ordered edamame, some sushi, and two big bottles of sake. Then, we asked to see a menu to order more sushi. The server, who was not polite to begin with, said, "We usually don't let people order seconds." We left and now will find a new favorite sushi place; my significant man is a bartender, and tipped less than 20% for the first time. I don't know why they would not allow "seconds," especaially after we, the customers, already spent a large amount; you would think they'd get it will bring them more money and return customers. We'd rather find a place where you pay more and get much better service.

    (2)

  • Komo B.

    If you like the mcdonalds of sushi then you should eat here. " I'll supersize my california roll"

    (2)

  • Kevin C.

    Went to Saburo's on a tip from a friend b/c my wife loves sushi (me not so much). This place was great. The staff was friendly, the prices reasonable, and I actually enjoyed the sushi. My wife thinks its the best sushi she's ever had. Just be aware you will wait in line. We arrived 30 minutes before they opened and were halfway around the building.

    (4)

  • Laura G.

    gross. Americanized sushi, i live near by and i can never understand why there is always such a line outside this place. sure i guess it has a novelty appeal but it is seriously lacking in taste, so not my cup of tea.

    (1)

  • Stevio x.

    if huge slabs of mediocre sushi are your thing, then this is the place for you. If you like more traditional, better shushi, then go to Murata -- the best sushi in Portland bar none. And if you think the wait is worth it...you need a life. :)

    (1)

  • Tabitha R.

    So ... we when we moved here we KNEW that it wasn't going to be easy to find good sushi. We accepted it ... sadly. So when we found out that THE BEST SUSHI in Portland was right down the street from our place ... we were super excited. So I read the reviews ... and I knew what I was in for. A LONG wait ... but that it was worth it. That we shouldn't over order because the portions were HUGE. Well ... they weren't kidding!! BUT what they failed to tell us wat that the actual rolls were huge ... not just the portions. So we ordered the Spider Roll, Spicy Tuna and another one I've forgoten the name of -- with lots of yummy salmon and cucumbers. And I must say ... the fish was pretty darn good. SO -- why two stars? WELL ... the problem is that each roll takes six bites to eat. You can't enjoy the roll ... as a roll ... you have to accept that you're having a salad of sorts and eat each piece individually. Now you may think I'm exaggerating ... but I'm not. The rolls were as big as the palm of my hand -- NO JOKE!! Hubby tried to "cut" a roll in half to make it more manageable and broke his chopsticks. One the upside the service was great. Once you're in -- the food comes quickly and the service is prompt. And you really can't beat the prices. But my recommendation is to stick with ordering the sashimi (which is also huge) so you can actual take a bite and enjoy it. Anywho ... the sushi was good. But I'd say -- not worth the wait and the fact that you can't enjoy a roll as an entire roll ... well 'nuf said. Perhaps they'll get the message and make the rolls tighter, the fish pieces smaller ... and just cut them into more pieces than 5. I can dream.

    (2)

  • Korin W.

    I hadn't been here for a while and decided to go on my bday. I knew there would be await so we did they usual, put your name on the list and head to Kay's for a beer thing... Well 45 minutes passed and our table still wasn't ready so we headed directly next door to Corkscrew (omg, i heart this place!). Finally our seats at the bar were ready and we were a go. So first thing I notice is its the same amazing atmosphere I know and love in that place. However, I start looking around and, seriously no joke, I counted 5 people wearing sparkly Ed Hardy hats (weird!). Then my eyes met the 'salmon' and 'white fish' in the 'showcase' in front of my seat at the bar and I knew we'd be in for a rough dinner... they were giant, brashly cut slabs (hunks even) of fish... blegh! Anyway, the rolls were WAY bigger than I remembered, and so huge that it was disgusting to try and eat them. We ended up picking out the fish from the middle of the rolls and taking bites of our sashimi. All in all we ended up drunk because neither of us could really eat what was presented to us as our 'order' ... I love the atmosphere here, I really truly do...if they could just get some decent chefs in here maybe it would turn around

    (2)

  • Sue R.

    I would say that the sushi here was not worth a 40 minute wait in the cold. I can certainly understand why people love it, as the sushi is king size. But it definitely loses flavor with the size. I think the true test of sushi is finding out how tender the tako is and the tako served here cannot possibly be bitten into. I don't think a knife and fork could have cut through what was on the plate. I admit, I am from Hawaii and am known to be a tough critic. So if you are looking for value, this is your place, but if you are looking for quality, mouth watering sushi, don't wait in line.

    (2)

  • Mya C.

    I would post 0 stars but unfortunately that is not an option. We were greeted in the rudest way. After waiting for 45 min, mind you they were not busy and when we finally were seated we asked for more than one menu they simply said no sorry we don't have any. Once finally seated we still waited for an additional 25 min. My friends and I ordered our food and clearly marked on the "one" menu provided. Our food came after an additional 20 and our order was wrong. I am not the type to complain ever and once I inquired about our order being wrong our servers only reply was "the menu was blurry not my fault" then walked away. She continued to charge me 2 dollars for spicy mayo and another dollar for cream cheese. My main point is the service was so sub par and I felt so disrespected that I will never come here again. I will still stick to my usual high quality, friendly, and respectful sushi places.

    (1)

  • J L.

    DO NOT GO HERE. I usually don't do reviews, but the experience of my most recent visit was too unpleasant. This used to be one of my family's favorite place to enjoy sushi, but now they have a whole new staff and servers, charge for every little thing, and the portion sizes went down. If you want extra wasabi, there's extra charge. Unagi sauce? Spicy mayo? Extra $.50-$1+. It's not as worth it and the sushi is not up to par anymore. Unfortunately, it's just not what it used to be. I would not go here anymore or ever again. The service is horrible. You cannot ask a simple question and expect to have the server give you an answer without attitude. They're not very welcoming and could care less about your food allergies, but blames you instead.

    (1)

  • Dean F.

    This is a tough review to write. There are several things about this place I'm not a fan of. But purely based on flavor and value of food this place is a 5 hands down. Where they lose points for me is in customer service and in basic cleanliness. Here is two examples. In the restroom as I have pictured they have a broken toilet. This is a simple fix for most and proven to be even more simple for these folks. They have simply mcgivered a cord out of Saran Wrap to flush. Wow. Inventive yes. Appropriate not so much. Second. My girlfriend and I walk in and are first blocked by some grump crap apple geezer (granted this is not the restaurants fault) once he is shuffled away by the waitress who in turn grabs the blessed sign in sheet and begins to protect it from the masses waits a minute or two then asks me if I need help. I respond that I would like to get in for a table. Well you must sign in she says. I respond yes I'm trying to get to the clip board. She in turn tells me that the only way to seat is by signing the clipboard. In my head I want to tell the lady, then give me the god damn sign up sheet. Aside from this food is great but expect a wait.

    (4)

  • Kyle N.

    I used to love going to Saburos. After a 4 year hiatus, this place has changed. Rude waitresses. Price jacked up by almost double and now they're charging a dollar for extra ginger and on top of it all, I can't even decide how much of a tip I want to give because it's already charged with the bill...never going back.

    (1)

  • Kathy W.

    Recommended by a local Portlandian(?) to check out during my visit to PDX. Long wait on a Sunday night around 7:30p (at least 45-60 min) for HUGE SLICES of sushi. HAWAII ROLL - spicy tuna roll wrapped in seaweed with an outer cucumber layer - good amount of tuna that was actually somewhat spicy - the exterior cucumber layer gave it a nice cooling crunch - decent SPIDER ROLL - typical soft shell crab roll - nicely fried soft shell crab; crispy with good amount of "meat" - standard to other restaurants SHOGUN ROLL: - California roll with teriyaki eel on top - the eel was quite rough and thus disappointing - the California roll had cucumbers, avocado and a cut of imitation crab - not memorable UNAGI: - typical teriyaki flavor - eel was a bit too chewy and fatty - not the best eel I've had SALMON - the thick cuts of salmon make salmon not quite palatable - it takes away the flavor of the salmon as well it's fine texture - good if you like thick salmon that makes you chewy A LOT TUNA - not a great amount of flavor but bearable - also not memorable GREEN TEA (COMPLIMENTARY) - lacks flavor - pretty much a smal teaspoon just for a subtle green tea flavor to differentiate it from hot water SERVICE: write your name on a list and wait a while to be called. They don't allow reservations but that doesn't stray the people of PDX from visiting. Once we got seated we were handed menus but not quite enough for 6 people (only got 2). When we ordered we found out they ran out of certain fishes by the end of the night like halibut, toro, and uni. I guess it's not hard to believe considering how many people visit this place. (I suppose it was a good thing they didn't have it because I wouldn't be able to eat it anyway.) When we got our food we had to request for plates, which is quite bad since they should know everyone needs plates based on the way the food is served. There actually isn't much service other than to bring the food and carry your plates away. ENVIRONMENT: Japanese vibe to it but nothing extremely authentic. There is a HUGE mural of Japanese culture in the back room. There are a good amount of seats available for the clients. It's very casual and conducive to almost people of all ages. The place can be a bit tight especially on busy nights. Overall, I wouldn't consider it authentic sushi because the cuts are too thick. Also there is too much rice. I may be biased because I'm from Los Angeles, where there are lots of great sushi places. Also NEVER in my life have I seen fish cut that thick and long. This place will definitely make you full. There is a great fullness and price ratio but the quality to other places I've been to is poor. I'm not from Portland, so I don't know how it rates to other places in Portland, but I do KNOW that renown sushi chefs would be disappointed by the way fish is treated here.

    (2)

  • Mark S.

    Huge portions with fresh ingredients! I like to imagine this place like the soup nazi on Seinfeld. They're only open for 5 hours, you put your name on a waiting list for an hour, place your order outside before your table is ready and your food comes out soon after your seated. No one says anything, but everyone knows to hurry and eat! There's someone waiting to sit down!

    (4)

  • Chloe V.

    HUGE FAN OF THE HUGE SUSHI and SASHIMI!! Omg the portions are huge and the fish is pretty good, not amazing but good. I love their salmon sashimi. The rolls are pretty good because of the different types. Definitely worth the wait and money because of the portions.

    (4)

  • Denise L.

    Gotta get here right at opening or you're in for a long wait. The waiting area can only fit around 5 people, so if you're coming in the wintertime, be sure to layer up because you'll probably be out in the cold for a while. Once seated, the food comes pretty quickly, and WOW. The nigiris are HUGE! I took a picture with one piece of salmon and it was the length of the tip of my middle finger to the bottom of my palm. The pieces are thick and fresh. I fell in love with the octopus. I could eat that tako everyday. Best I have ever had! With a big piece of fish, there's also a big chunk of rice. Also, the rolls are incredibly large and delicious as well. Just know you're in for a ton of leftovers! Also, get the salmon skin salad! Besides the wait time, the only negative thing I could say about this place is that there's no take out option. But other than those two negatives, I would say this place is a definite must to visit if you're craving fresh sushi!

    (4)

  • Brandon R.

    Portions Portions Portions. This place has great portions and incredible pricing. The fish is great and fresh. This is one of the best places to grab sushi in Portland if you have a car or can make the trip out. Cute little block it is in as well with a few bars and coffee shops around. I would rate this place 5 stars anyway, however, they do not take reservations and be prepared to wait, and wait and wait. Always a 1 hour wait for food here. Would recommend it if you have the time, patience and hunger to take down their giant pieces of fish!

    (4)

  • Nikki C.

    I don't know why it's so popular. I haven't been here in 6 years and probably won't come back again. The line was long, we waited for about an hour on Sunday. We took our time to order, they gave us 1 menu for 4 people, and they're rushing us like asking if you're ready to order yet 3 times, and when we said we're not, she gave us an attitude (the lady with glasses). We can't ask for more ginger or wasabi, you have to pay extra for that, no matter how much sushi you order. They charge 15% gratuity for 5 or more people or over $100 bill. So we got charged almost $19 for our bill, and we got 4 people. We wouldn't give that much tips for the service we got. You can only order once here, so I guess almost everyone ordered way too much food. When they gave us check, they rushed us so badly like taking everything out of the table even our drinks, like you have to leave right now! If you wanna enjoy eating with your family or friends just don't come here. They have so much ego and pride that they don't care if we don't come back again because they always have people lining up for their food. In my opinion, the reason why they're so popular is because their sushi is huge, lots of rice and thick piece of fish, but for us too much rice and too thick fish kind of ruin the sushi, it's just too much. I really don't think it's worth it for waiting in line for at least an hour for this food and service. *The lady with the glasses is very rude, very unpleasant, and looks like she really hates her job*

    (2)

  • High S.

    Worth the wait. The complaints are from those who don't understand or appreciate the hole in the wall place this, actually, is. Don't expect to be waited on like a child when they are moving that many people through the place. Go to the Pearl if you need to be treated like that and can sacrifice taste in exchange for service. The udon is the best in Portland. The rolls will make it hard to appreciate the sushi elsewhere. Drive to Sellwood or take the 70. You'll need to take a walk after but there are parks and antique shops nearby, thankfully. If you're on a date with someone who likes the fast pace and excellent food, go for it. It's not a place to bring a high maintenance date, though.

    (5)

  • Kevin S.

    Hands down our favorite sushi spot in Portland. Great fish, and even better portion size. They do amazing salmon. Tuna salad. The chef's choice sashimi is a must if you have never been in before. I like that the staff always remembers my wife and I even though they see. A ton of people. Come sunday 20-30 min before they open if you don't want to wait in line.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    Well worth it! The wait sucks but the food is really good and the service is great.

    (4)

  • Carolyn P.

    So much sushi!!! The rolls are HUGE and I mean huge! If you looking to stuff for face with sushi for $20 this is the place.

    (4)

  • Brent C.

    It is really hard to get behind this place. I understand, to a certain extent, why people would want to go here, but the constant lines basically make this place the Voodoo Donut of the Portland sushi scene. There's something about waiting in line for food in this town that draws people to want to wait in line. I don't get it. Not when there are better choices right down the street. So what's the draw? Sushi rolls the size of a baby's leg for the price of your average, every day roll. They deliver this via lower quality fish and a truckload of rice, pass the "savings" on to you and call it value. The line starts to die down a little closer to closing time, so if you show up at 9pm for a late night sushi binge, I guess it might be worth the effort. But I live within a 10 minute walk of Saburo's, and I'll still go to Mio on 17th every time because the food is better and there's never a wait.

    (2)

  • G T.

    The sushi is fresh and for the size, worth the money. I have been coming here for years but although the food is good, the service has gone from good to average, average to bad, and now it has gone to hell in a hand basket. The service is downright horrible. They automatically charge 15% gratuity for TO GO orders of above $100, but maybe that's for the better since I only had to deal with the terrible service for a fraction of the time. They should really look into hiring staff who provide better customer service. I don't expect the sky, but if the service in a Japanese restaurant is worse than the service in Chinese restaurants on NE 82nd (and vicinity), you should be REALLY concerned.

    (3)

  • Joshua L.

    I have eaten here at least half a dozen times. I will continue going here. Yes, the line is generally long. Who cares? You sign in and then go have a glass of wine next store or a beer around the corner. If you want to eat immediately, go to a sushi track place and enjoy the rotting fish. No, the atmosphere is not great. Who cares? You should be busy man-handling your massive chunks of food anyway. If you want a dark, romantic experience, you probably shouldn't be going to a sushi place known for it's long wait, portion size, and rushed service. No, the service is not exceptional. Who cares? You do get your food quickly. Surprisingly quickly for how busy it is. If you want someone to fold your napkin for you when you go to the restroom and kiss your a$$, then go somewhere else. Yes, the food is ridiculously huge. And good. Damn good. It is far better than most other well-rated sushi joints in town. The value is unbeatable. One roll here is equal to at least 3 at most other places. Anywho, I am tired of reading all of the poor reviews because people have unrealistic expectations, are snobs, or just have poor taste. If you want some of the best sushi in Portland, and you want the best bang for your buck, come here.

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    Best sushi in Portland! If your not in line 45 minutes before it opens, your stuck on a waiting list. No reservations taken, and they really cram you in to a small space. But the prices are very good, and the sushi is well worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Steven S.

    I don't know how traditional the place is, but the portions per cost is an amazing deal. I went with a friend and between us we filled up on a bunch of items and only ended up paying $12 a person. There is going to be a wait, but they are great about keeping a steady rotation, and will still seat you immediately if you aren't there right when your name is called, so don't worry. The food is tasty, but it's mostly for the large cuts of fish that I recommend this place. It's the best combination of quality and price in the Portland area for sushi.

    (4)

  • Ian F.

    This place sucks. Plain and simple: the sushi and rolls are overly large portions of poorly made, not delicious ingredients. Giant balls of mushy rice, and something off tasting with the soft shell crab, uni, crab, salt water eel, ama ebi. Tuna and salmon were generic and flavorless. Everything you order is huge, and everyone takes a lot away because it just doesn't taste very good. Small negatives include long waits, silent sparse waitservice, 1 menu (2 menu per table maximum), crowded rundown interior. All forgivable if the food was good.

    (1)

  • Eunsik Eugene P.

    OVERRATED!! Is this only sushi place in PORTLAND?! I dont know why this place rated as FIVE stars..thier sushi come out like a piece of brick, fish isnt fresh at allll, way too long wait , and especially bad SERVICE!! People who rated this place must have very cheap taste and going for quantity instead of quality.

    (1)

  • Alex O.

    Saburo's is without a doubt my favorite traditional Sushi restaurant in Portland. I am a big fan of Sinju as well, but for completely different reasons. If I'm craving fancied up/Americanized special rolls, I'll go to Sinju, but if I'm craving some straight up nigiri and/or more traditional Sushi, this is definitely the place. I give this place 5 stars, because the food is phenomenal, the price is great, and with this place I don't get tied up in other things that might make me rate a restaurant lower, because my expectations here are different. Some of the reviews complain about the wait, but it's something I had heard about before i ever even went here for the first time, so it's never been a big deal, and certainly will not be something I will complain about. It's kind of part of the experience in a way and is expected, because the place is not that big, and they are incredibly popular. If you don't want to wait, then either get there before they open or don't go. Plus there are plenty of places to go grab a drink nearby while you're waiting, so it's not like you're stuck there for an hour plus. And in addition, you can ask for a menu while you're waiting so you can figure out what you're ordering before you go in. I thought it was also pretty insane how so many people kind of griped about the portions that they serve here, which are ginormous, because that is one of the things I love about this place the most. You really get the most bang for your buck for a category of food that is already on the expensive side to begin with. You can get way more fish for your dollar here than you could at Sushiville or any one of those cookie cutter sushi restaurants, and the quality is way better. And another thing, because the portions are so big you don't have to order as much, or you can have leftovers. In my opinion here, the food is very good. The quality of the fish is excellent, one of the best if not the best I've had in Portland. And while it might not be Michelin star sushi like from Jiro's or many other places in Japan, it is still very pretty and well put together; all one needs to do is look at the photos other patrons have posted on here. It's incredibly unfair to compare this to super high end sushi joints in Japan or the few that are in the states, because while this place is very quality in terms of its food, it also doesn't try to be those other places. And if they were, they'd be a lot more expensive, and probably wouldn't do very well in a place like Portland. Even still, ask any Japanese person where their favorite sushi restaurant in Portland is, and I'll guarantee they'll say Saburo's. One last thing: from one angle I can sympathize with some of the people who have reported customer service issues here; there seem to be enough of them to think that they might be flukes, but I will say that after going here at least a half a dozen times, I have never had a bad customer service experience here. They've always been really friendly, and while the overall atmosphere seems rushed, that again is the expectations I had before I even went there the first time, and can understand that they want turnover. Jiro's in Japan is evidently the same way, and they're 3 Michelin stars. Some restaurants, especially some sushi joints are about turnover and not necessarily about the sit-down experience. I also don't care as much that the inside of the restaurant isn't anything special at all, because the food speaks for itself. If you haven't tried Saburo's yet, I would highly recommend it. I'm already planning my next trip. Just plan on getting there before they open or plan for a longer wait and also large potions as part of your expectations. Just don't expect a lovely romantic candlelight ambiance, because that is not what these fine folks are about.

    (5)

  • Charlotte K.

    If only I could give ZERO STARS instead of one. Currently seated in one of the booths right now (6:45 PM) on a Sunday and yes, we had to wait an hour or so to get seated but that was not the problem. The problem with this place is the service - it was so horrible that it really overpowered all positive thoughts on the huge portions and size of the sushi and rolls. BEWARE OF THE FAT LADY... She came to our table quickly and rudely cut me off while I was speaking and said "let me look at this first before you talk to me". Incredible. Such aggressiveness toward a customer. She then proceeded to tell us that we can only order once and cannot add more before leaving! I still had more to add on and because she rudely cut me off she didn't hear the rest of my order!! I tried to get her attention again but when I finally did, she told another girl server to help me instead. Sure, this place has huge portions, but I will never be coming back here again because of the terrible service. (Plus, it should be more about QUALITY than quantity). Furthermore, they're in a huge rush in kicking people out as fast as they can -- my family and I have already been given to-go boxes and our check when it's clear that we are still eating!! On top of that, beware: I'm guessing because of their rude service so many people haven't paid much tip so they add in gratuity (15% tip) on your check without even telling you beforehand. They did not even deserve 15% at all. Also, I'm wondering if that's even legal? I don't know, I've never had that done to me before at a restaurant. Even still, how crazy is that? We decided to just pay it and get the heck out of there. Save your money and time.

    (1)

  • Jeff S.

    Let me preface this review a little bit. I'm not a sushi snob, but I've also been fortunate to have been to some very very amazing sushi establishments. While Saburo's isn't terrible, by no means can I comprehend why there is a 2 hour wait, nor what the hype is. Perhaps it is because Portland doesn't have a sushi joint every other block as it seems like in Southern California, but I was disappointed. There is a 2 hour wait. The portions are insanely large. Yes the sushi is the size of a small cell phone. The thick cut of fish is generous. The prices are actually very reasonable for what you are ordering. However, sushi isn't about a thick slab of fish on top of a fist size of rice. It's like eating spam musubi, but instead of spam you have a slab of raw salmon. Plus I almost feel like you are losing the texture and taste of the fish by simply cleaving out the largest chunk of sashimi you can have. Anyone can cut large chunks of sliced sashimi from a slab of fish, real talent is cutting the right thin amount... The rolls however were pretty amazing. Nothing bad about those.

    (3)

  • Lo G.

    Saburo's remains at the top of Portland's Sushi restaurant list. The long lines, however, are getting old. It is time for Saburo's to expand the business elsewhere, like other, less fine sushi restaurants have been doing throughout the city. There is something to be said for ambiance when having sushi. Saburo's ignores all the niceties of Japanese culture by cramming people in like a herd of starving cattle. Sure, the portions are supersized and the cost is kept low, but is it worth the feeling of being on display like a sardine in a can? Get with the program! Open a Saburo's in downtown Vancouver or something already!

    (4)

  • Steve H.

    These people are barbarians. Savages. Uncouth. Yabanjin. And yet I know people who rave about this place. And there are often lines out the door. I really just don't get it--at all. In Japan it takes years of training to become a sushi chef. After five years of training with a master itamae, they are finally allowed to cook the sushi rice--prepared according to strict and exacting instructions. Once this is task is mastered, the apprentice is promoted to wakiita, an apprentice to a senior itamae who prepares sushi ingredients (slicing vegetables, grating ginger, cutting blocks of fish for sushi preparation) and eventually begins making his first nagirizushi (hand formed sushi) with artistic precision and skill. The results are exquisite works of edible art that one eagerly devours either whole or in two blissful bites. Admittedly that training regime seems a bit extreme. I mean five years to cook rice? I'm fine with sushi chefs who've abbreviated this culinary education, and I expect that the vast majority of American sushi chefs have done just that. Saburo's, however, has nothing to do with this tradition whatsoever. One gets the impression--and I am basing this assumption solely on the quality and appearance of the final product--that at Saburo's the apprentice, a ham-fisted giant who was hired earlier that same day, is trained in the art of Norse battle axe and ice cream scoop by some stoned hippie over the course of 20 minutes before he is let loose in the kitchen to prepare California rolls the diameter of a spare automobile tire. A typical bit of nagiri sushi at Saburo's is a tiger-snack sized chunk of tuna, roughly the size of a deck of cards, draped like a dead gazelle over a wad of sticky rice roughly the size of an oblong baseball. A machete and fork is not provided to tame this monolith of pescene muscle and carb bomb, leaving the diner to hoist the fish-baby to his or her mouth and gnaw off 1/8 of the mass in a grotesque, date-ending, cheek-puffing mouthful. The teeth of homo sapiens sapiens are ill suited for masticating raw flesh effectively, so typically the 1/4 pound of rice crumbles into the diner' lap as he or she struggles to gnaw off a bite like some desperate hyena tearing a sinewy strip of flesh off of a zebra corpse. This is not what sushi is supposed to be. This is, quite simply, not sushi.

    (2)

  • Jenny H.

    Bleh I really didn't like the food here. I came here Sunday around 6PM and was surprised to see a long line. Last time I tried to go to Saburo's I thought the wait was too long and had left. This time I toughed it out and waited about an hr or so. I ordered a few nigiri and rolls including salmon, unagi, anago, kani, spider roll, and spicy tuna roll. Everything came out looking very pretty and insanely big but too bad they didn't taste that great. One big complaint was I felt their flavoring was on the sweet side starting from their rice. I couldn't really stomach the unagi and anago because the sauce was super sweet on top of the already too sweet rice. My second complaint is the rolls are too big and fall apart as you try to eat them. I prefer my sushi more dainty and well made instead of large slabs to feed giants.

    (2)

  • Thao Trang H.

    Hey everyone!! Last night, I had the best sushi of my life right here in Portland, OR at a place called Saburo's!!! I have attached images of the ENORMOUS pieces if sushi that one has to see it for themselves to believe!! Each roll was the size of at least 4 rolls packed into one!! The nigiri was always a half an inch thick and more than half as long as your chopsticks!! We started off with some steamed ginger garlic myself, which had a very flavorful sauce! Next came the Philly and salmon tempura rolls dipped in a delicious ponzu sauce! The tuna in the Philly was scrumptious! Afterwards, we had huge creamy scallops, huge maguro tuna, huge Hawaiian roll that had the freshest tuna ever, the most amazing toro sake (fatty salmon), and the biggest dragon roll I have ever laid my eyes upon!! Also, you're only supposed to order once at the start, bit they were very nice when we wanted a few more pieces of Unagi (eel) and fatty salmon. And the sake was pretty good too. I had a really creamy and smooth unfiltered sake. The warm sake warmed us up after waiting in the cold for nearly an hour! The images really don't do any justice, so I hope that the next time you all are in the area, you'll come try this place with me!! What is even better is that the prices are dirt cheap!!! The 2 piece fatty salmon nigiri that was 2/3 the size of my chopsticks was only $4!! The only downside is that you end up waiting an hour or so outside because of how small the venue is. Please come try Saburo's sometime with me!!! :-), you won't regret it!! Sincerely, Thao-Trang

    (5)

  • Asian F.

    Service is below worse. The food is OK, it is accurate to say the portion is huge but they increased their prices. The rice and the raw fish is not proportional. The place is tiny, long wait, dirty dishes and the staff is plain rude. We have few companies from Texas so I felt like I had to take them to try out this place. They put a little chair at the end of the table and expected my guest to sit on it. Please be warned they charge you 15% service charge for any party for 5 or more. Also, they charge you for extra wasabi and ginger. They have so many wait stuff but no service whatsoever, at one point I noticed they were even playing with their iPhone. Then charged us 15% service for 0 service and we corrected them that 2 sushi rolls we ordered did not make it to our table. If you do not pay attention to your bill, you can be easily overcharged. They are very sneaky. I will never go back, there are tons of nice Japanese restaurant offer good sushi and do not treat you like you are prisoners.

    (1)

  • Claudia R.

    Yummmm. Saburos. This is a great place. Great fish and a huge variety of options. The rolls are, in my opinion, too large. It throws off the ratio of fish to rice and makes it impossible to eat a whole piece in one bite.

    (3)

  • Suie C.

    We waited in line for 45 min...and were the second to last table to be seated in the first round of seating when the restaurant opened. It's easy to order and the waiters are quick. Yes the sushi pieces are quite large so you are getting your bang for the buck. But...other than the size of the sushi, the flavor wasn't anything too special that I'd be willing to wait in line for such a long time again. Nothing bad, but nothing stood out much either. I imagine I'd probably come here if there was less of a wait (15-20min), perhaps coming towards closing would be a better option. But I don't think I'd wait for nearly an hour again. Even if the sushi is huge.

    (3)

  • Soo L.

    We went on a Wednesday night around 730pm and the sign posted said the wait would be from 15-20 minutes. We ended up waiting about an hour. Around 20 minutes into our wait one the servers came out and announced their system was down and wouldn't be able to take credit cards. At this point there were several tables empty and no one new was being seated. I get that things were slowing down because of their system and having to do thing manually but it was a little frustrating for he minutes to tick by and not getting any closer to the front of the line. At one point we asked two different servers if we could do take out. One ignored us and the other one said no. Haha. We decided to wait it out and once we sat the service got a little better. The sushi was great. Spicy Tuna was awesome as was the seared salmon. The soft shell crab app was good as well. I think the sushi is worth the frantic and negligent service but I would go Right at opening or later into the night.

    (3)

  • Ashley B.

    I enjoy coming here whenever I'm in Portland. Yes, the wait times are long...at least an hour or two. Just plan for it, you can check out the shops or get a drink at one of the many bars around there. Food is great. Big rolls with good flavor. Service just gets the job done but isn't rude. I always leave happy and stuffed. Had spicy tuna roll, unagi roll, tempura vegetable roll. It was amazing. Two people can get painfully full for less than $30. You should try it.

    (5)

  • Shauna F.

    As a fan of sashimi...O.M.G. THIS PLACE RULES...seriously, this is my favorite sushi restaurant ever just because of the massive servings of sashimi

    (5)

  • Tahnee S.

    Everyone thinks this place is great because the portions are big, but the low quality fish is not worth it. Also the service is terrible...rude servers, especially if you go alone. Even though I was next on the wait list to be seated, they refused to seat me because I was alone when two seats opened up at the sushi bar...and they unapologetically passed me over on the list over and over again. They then explained that they wanted to fill every seat at the bar. Rude and greedy! No other sushi bar has ever done that to me when dining alone.

    (1)

  • Eddie T.

    I had been to this place with my family many times for the last 16 months ever since we moved to Tigard, because of their big and tasty sushi rolls. The fish is fresh and the portion is quite good. Our 11-year old son loves sushi and this is a better place than most of the others around the Beaverton and Tigard areas. We didn't mind the drive and the wait, even though it might take more than an hour to get a table for 4. That said, we are not going back there any time soon due to the horrible services. On reading one of the reviewers' comments, I would agree that the bad interactions with them is not worth it. For example, one hostess (a chubby lady in the late 30s or early 40s) appeared to be very bossy and always looked p*ssed off when we requested extra napkins or a pair of new chopsticks, or even when we ordered some additional sushi!! One time, we asked for some ice cubes for our water and she yelled "we don't give ice for water. Ice is only for soda drinks!" Later on, we approached another waitress and she was able to give us some ice cubes! I understand that this is a typical Asian substandard restaurant and I didn't expect good service, but what happened there was more of an insult to me and my family, especially in front of our young kids... hey, we paid didn't we?

    (1)

  • Teresa T.

    Decided to try out Saburo's for dinner on a Thursday night and waited around 30 minutes for our seats at the bar. While waiting we weren't sure who to ask for a menu so we weren't able to look over it/put our orders in but luckily we made quick decisions and got our orders in. I also read the reviews beforehand so luckily knew you have one shot to put your order in. For 2 we got the rainbow roll, spider roll, salmon skin roll, and 2 orders of salmon nigiri. The salmon skin roll was alright..we appreciated the thick chunks of salmon still attached to the skin but suspect that the skin wasn't freshly fried since it was soggy upon arrival. I also noticed pre-made sear tuna chilling in the fridge case so this makes sense since these chefs have to make the rolls pretty fast. The spider roll was good and crispy though. A solid choice. The rainbow roll was seriously the size of 2 normal sized rolls you would get at other restaurants and had impressive filets of fish on the top. The inside was decent also. The salmon nigiri pieces were impressively generous but I found the flavor and texture meh. Overall I found the rolls under-seasoned and a bit bland for my taste. However, you are getting a bang for your buck.

    (3)

  • Amber K.

    Regardless of wait times, I went to this sushi restaurant on raving reviews of my co-workers. Upon ordering the rainbow roll and the spicy tuna roll, I was shocked at the size. Just because the portions are huge doesn't make them good! Does anyone reviewing the food actually taste the food they are consuming? The rainbow roll was a sloppy massive mess that was ridiculous. The spicy tuna was flavored with a hot sauce that so awful and did not resemble anything a true spicy tuna roll should. The servers did not even notice that I didn't eat majority of my ordered food. They are so busy on getting people in and out. I just don't understand the huge popularity of this restaurant. It was such a let down.

    (1)

  • Stephanie S.

    3.5-4*. Standing in line for giant pieces of sushi and witnessing a neighbouring table sit down only to get $400 worth in take-out was an experience in itself! According to my local cuz, there is constantly a line for Saburo's, a sushi joint that serves 3-bite pieces of nigiri. The line, mainly consisting of tourists, forms even before they open at 5pm for dinner! CRAY. Traditionalists will probably turn their nose up at this joint as the art of sushi is sort of bastardised due to the sheer SIZE/quantity. However, if you're into "bang for buck" mentality, you won't hesitate to wait for a seat. Apparently, the prices at Saburo's are the same as other sushi places, but with HUGE pieces, so hence their popularity! For such a busy place, service was surprisingly polite and efficient. Tip: NO RESERVATIONS and I don't blame them either! It's line-up, first come, first served!

    (3)

  • Bich L.

    The food is great, but service is rather rude. We have been going here for years, but the recent new waitresses have no respect for the customers. We have always tried to eat fast, so others can get in faster, but being rudely asked to leave when we are just halfway done, is not ok. We will never come back, again.

    (1)

  • Patti F.

    Value = great. This is GIANT sushi, not teeny sushi and I didn't know there was a difference before I came to try Saburo's. Luckily my friends warned me, "it's huge, like, REALLY HUGE" and I'm thinking how huge is huge? Think Chipotle burrito huge. I enjoyed my roll, I got the spicy tuna/crab roll which was quickly deep fried - very tasty, and that's all I had. Normally I can eat two rolls myself, and I could barely finish this one. Holy moly it's HUGE. Didn't love the hour and a half wait just to get crammed into a teeny place, but clearly people think it's worth it. I'll try it again for sure, just based on the value - and they also carry my favorite Nigiri sake (Momokawa Pearl and Sayuri). Service was good, they clearly want you in and out - and with such a small place I get it. No complaints, but waiting kind of sucked.

    (3)

  • Laura B.

    I'm a regular here and there are so many reasons why. Fast service, HUGE portions, casual and clean atmosphere, great prices, and friendly and attentive staff. I've checked out other places, and they leave me pining for Saburo's.

    (5)

  • Sean S.

    Sushi and rolls are bigger than normal, but is still decently priced. Only downside is the seating, wait time if you decide to eat there (and if you don't wait outside at least 45 mins before it opens), and parking. They serve a few other things besides sushi and rolls too. Although I wasn't a big fan of the spicy tuna roll; b/c they use the spicy sweet sauce, I would still go back because of the portion, cost, and other stuff tasted okay. For 6 of us, ending up paying $30 per person and was very full after. If you don't finish, they can give you a to-go container. FYI - As far as credit cards, I think they only accept Visa, MC, and AMEX.

    (4)

  • Kayla N.

    I've been eating here in years, but today the service really disappointed me, especially the FAT waitress, she was so impolite and agressive. She used her loud voice with a rude attitude to talk to us and even demand us to move table. The food is not good like before too...I don't know why but the golden time of Saburo's is ending soon, pretty soon if they keep treating customers like that.

    (2)

  • Ben C.

    5 stars for the sushi. It's amazing. Seriously, huge rolls! But the service needs some serious work. We joined our friends a few minutes after they sat down (a big no no here) and when our food took a little while the server announced to the table: "you're ticket is at the end of the list since the rest of your table showed up late." Luckily for my friend and I, we had been drinking at Portland Bottle Shop around the corner so the bad service was incredibly funny to us. Unfortunately our friends weren't amused. Either way, I would still recommend this place if you want to shove your face with massive pieces of Nemo! Delicious!

    (4)

  • Gregory J.

    Probably the best sushi of ever had an huge pieces. Second time been here in town and only waited 10 to 15 minutes get there around 515 if you want food rather quickly. Amazing amazing amazing and you'll bring some home for sure.

    (5)

  • John T.

    please read this message!!!!!! the food is okay, n i meant just okay tho!!!!! you really can not screw up with fresh fish...right?!?! as long as the fish is fresh n i guess the quality is gurantee!!! the place is small, n they seated you sitting on the same table with the people you dont know. the biggest mistake is they have bigger's gut charge each person 18% tips no matter what eventho you are going by yourself!!!!!! They charged my friend 15%, n charged me n my wife 18% at the SAME NIGHT...WHY?!?!?! Let me tell you guys. They charged the " % " depends on how much foods n what you order. My wife n I ordered $110 including 18% tips n all sushi. My friends ordered bunch of rolls no sushi n around $35. And he got charged 15%. They need to learn basic english first before learn how to do business in america...especially in oregon tax free state!!!!!! if you have good service, then 10000% i will have no problem to tip. because the servers rely on tips. but, they have no service at all n you have to wait forever to be seated or trying to refill your glass n ask for napkin things like that. tipping will not be considerate in this restaurant!!!!!!!! if you guys dont believe it, then visit there to experience yourself, pls! try " san sai japanese restaurant " in portland up town. look it up on yelp. you will be surprise the foods about the same, the price more fair, they dont charge you 18% grad without your agreement, and the place seats a lot more comfortable.

    (1)

  • Mark I.

    I thought it could not get any worse but I was wrong. Friends from out of town pleaded with me and I caved. The service was terrible, the wait was unbelivable and the final straw was mandatory tip added to our bill. Our friends were sadly disappoint. I think this place is on the decline.

    (1)

  • Brad H.

    I love this place. My favorite place for rolls... especially the Hawaiian roll. Yum. True, you have to wait in line to get in a lot of the time, but it helped my friends and I develop a tradition of pre-saburos drinks nearby, and once you count on that it isn't a big deal. The portions are huge, fresh, and just taste great. Definitely one of my stand bys when people are visiting town and want sushi.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    This is a tourism food experience. Thier hook is very large portions. But the food quality is something like a Buffet but with uniquely unapologetic service and cleanliness.

    (3)

  • Erica B.

    Honestly, I'm a sushi lover and whenever I go here it can literally never go wrong. Every item is fresh, delicious, the rolls are big, and I keep coming back for more. I've eaten here by myself and with friends, there's a bit of a line when they first open for the night (which is always a good sign) and the people are down to wait 30-45 minutes. (There's a wine bar next door to keep you warm). The service is good, it's always busy so cut them so slack (and its kind of a small place). I absolutely love the Mt Hood Roll, Hula Roll, Sabu Roll, I can keep going! The hand rolls are as big as your arm (maybe a tad smaller) and the nigiri is possibly the BEST I've had anywhere. I will keep coming back to this place.

    (5)

  • Woo K.

    YES- the sushi is ginormous YES- you better anticipate an hour wait if not more (the trick is to get there early before it opens) YES- it is a bit overhyped, but will you enjoy it? probably Saburo's is one of those sushi joints where you can easily over order. Everything just sounds so damn good, and judging on a normal scale- one roll could probably feed a family of 5. Am I the only person here who awkwardly picks up the sushi roll and tries to adjust it in different directions to fit in my mouth? Eat with someone your comfortable with, or getting stared at during this process can be either funny or awkward. My favorite here is the salmon, especially because it comes out looking like a mini salmon on a piece of rice. Things a giant, but more Salmon for me is never a bad thing. In all respects, I don't come here on a normal basis. Getting here and waiting can give anybody an anxiety attack, but I do crave it on an occasional basis. Yes to giant sushi! No to ugly lines. Yes to if you have friends coming to town! You guys will be talking about it after, it's a cool experience.

    (4)

  • Rossana Y.

    Portland is a little ridiculous sometimes with waiting in line for food. Our first attempt in coming to Saburo ended up with us having to leave since there was a sign for a 2 hour wait. 2 hours! This was when we arrived at around 6:30pm on a Friday night for dinner, but we decided to just come back again the next day at 4:30pm (opening time is at 5pm). We arrived the next day at 4:45pm and there was already a long line! Fortunately we we were able to fit into the early seating. The inside was much bigger than I thought, and there was actually another room as you walk further into the restaurant. What I like is that they give you very large portions. The rolls are huge!! If I were to order one, I definitely would share it with someone. However, I notice that they pack a lot of rice in the rolls and nigiri, which makes me obliged to give them minus one star. My favorite was the salmon belly, and it was very rich and creamy. Yum! I would never wait 2 hours to come eat here, but Saburo gets a solid 4 stars for the salmon belly and large portions of sushi!

    (4)

  • E C.

    Salmon, unagi and sweet shrimp are fresh!! Others are not. Sushi's original size exist for a reason. Oversized sushi here care less about its quality.

    (3)

  • Jen B.

    Get here EARLY because you will wait. Fatty salmon was my favorite... and the veggie roll. Service was quick!

    (4)

  • Q M.

    Heed all these poor reviews: this place is utter garbage. Awful wait staff and subpar sushi. I'm so tired of all these hyped up restaurants that are actually just junk. Everything that needs to be said has already been said in recent reviews, read them.

    (1)

  • Sudipto G.

    Wow.. really huge portions of sushi made it really difficult to eat with chopsticks. I'm not a sushi connesieir by any stretch of imagination but the sushi here was pretty good. Had the Mt. Hood roll which was crispy and tasty as well as the dragon roll which was extremely flavorful. But the highlight of the meal was the salmon teriyaki.. havent had such tender juicy well cooked salmon in ages.

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    Small spaces, decor needs updating, but food was quite good. My friend and I stopped by here around 8PM on a Sunday evening. She knew my love for value and indicated that I absolutely had to try out this place because their nigiri's fresh and double or triple the size of other restaurants. I initially read about how long the wait was but we were seated within half an hour. Dim fluorescent lighting and a small, packed dining area with a large wall mural greeted us. We had orders of the yellow tail nigiri, salmon belly nigiri, unagi special roll, and a salmon roll. There are a few things on the menu which they'll never have, such as the toro-perhaps we have to go earlier, but my friend noted that they never seem to have it. As most have stated, the food portions are huge (large pieces of fish) and well-plated. The fish was fresh and at the proper temperature- not too cold or not too warm. Service was also good with the waitress checking up on us a few times throughout the meal, giving us a massive bowl of ginger when we requested a little more, and even offering to get us fresh wasabi once we boxed the leftovers. Overall, a good value and a pleasant dining experience out!

    (4)

  • Allen K.

    The photos of the sushi posted here really don't do it justice.You just can't appreciate the sheer SIZE of the sushi until it's right there in front of you. Saburo's goes against all convention and offers huge slices of fish and giant rolls while keeping their prices cheaper than most sushi restaurants out there. It's easy to get carried away with ordering because of the low prices, but at least you get to go home with tons of leftovers. Just look at my picture :) I would rate this place a 5, but I've reserved that for the best sushi I've ever tasted in Seattle at Umi

    (4)

  • Mars V.

    Super fresh and absolutely massive sushi. A great value given the fish to dollar ratio. Friendly staff who have worked there for years. Be in line at least 40 minutes before they open if you want to make the first wave, otherwise be prepared to wait. Recommended: The fatty Salmon belly is buttery delicious. The Hamachi is tender and buttery. The Hawaiian Roll- spicy tuna in a cucumber shell. The Tempura Udon Soup- like a Japanese version of French Onion Soup. Ask for the tempura on the side so it doesn't get soggy.

    (5)

  • Yan L.

    Poor quality sushi all round. The rolls we ordered just didn't taste good. Also got a yakisoba which was way too salty. The only thing redeeming about this place is that the portions are huge for the price you pay. Never could understand why this place has lines going out the door all the time. The interior and bathrooms are also rather dingy.

    (1)

  • Dianna C.

    I felt this place was hyped up too much as the best sushi in Portland. The sushi quality and style is similar to the rolls from Sansai's on 23rd, but just bigger. In terms of eating the best quality and sushi creativeness for real foodies, nothing can beat Bamboo sushi.

    (3)

  • Jimmy H.

    I'm a fan of big. In fact, there are parts of me that I wish were a lot bigger. However, the gigormous size of the sushi here is a bit over the top. No, actually, it's way over the top. Each piece is literally the size of two normal sized sushi any where else. My parents took me here last week and they warned me about the portion size. I quickly dismissed their concern and proceeded to order 18 nigiri servings for the three of us. Big mistake. Pun totally intended. My Mom was one hamachi away from being very un-ladylike in the bathroom by the end of the meal. Don't get me wrong, the sushi is not bad. The size just diminishes the experience. And the price is pretty dang cheap. Maybe I'm just use to Cali prices but 5 bucks for toro seems insane. Of course, they ran out and I didn't get to eat any so maybe it's just a scam. How the hell do you run out at 6pm on a Wednesday? Ok that pissed me off enough thinking about it that I just lowered my rating from 4 to 3 stars. Another ding: the service. The one lady there is nice, but all the fellas working there need to chill with their attitude. Smile once in a while motherf*ckers. I'm sure you get to eat plenty of free sushi. Will I go back? Sure. They better not run out of toro.

    (3)

  • Pui S.

    Big pieces of sushi - TOO BIG!!! You will have to cut it in half (I hate doing that)! :( Long wait for a hype up place! Taste bland. Flat coke. We over ordered it because we were way too hungry! Nothing much about it but no-taste large sushi gimmick! Blah!!!

    (1)

  • Molly W.

    I've lived in the Sellwood area for two years now and finally bit the bullet and went to Saburo's. I don't think I'll ever want to go back... The sushi was okay, but nothing great. Really overrated! I have a take out box full of left over sushi that I don't even want, to be honest. I can't figure out why there is always a line. It's really not worth the wait. Not to mention the absolutely awful service! The ladies who work here are just plain rude! I get that their busy, but would it kill you to smile, say hello, and thank you. People are spending their hard earned dollars, the employees could be a bit more friendly. I left Saburo's feeling stressed and ripped off.

    (1)

  • Andrew D.

    Craziest wait ever. And for some reason my friends keep dragging me back here. I will say though I always get the spicy tuna salad because it is delicious. In addition the sweet shrimp is good too. If you have scrolled through the pictures and read other reviews then you know that the rolls are HUGE. Too big in my opinion, I need to take at least two bites per piece of sushi. It is a place I guess you should try at least once. However, if you are eating sushi for the quality of the fish, I would highly suggest that you go elsewhere, my personal favorite is Yokos.

    (3)

  • Kirsten H.

    Sushi is big and quite tasty. I can deal with the wait and the service is ok. They tend to be forgetful but with how busy they are the service is bound to be slightly sub par.

    (4)

  • Tamara G.

    well worth the wait (and there always is one) huge portions, affordable and soooo delicious!

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    This was my third time here and definitely also my worst experience here. In the past I usually come later at around 7 or 8 so maybe the time of the day affects their wait staffs attitude. This time my friends and I went there at around 3:30 on a Sunday hoping to beat the crowd but of course there was already a long line and we ended up waiting for an hour and a half. However everyone who has been to Saburo's know this is expected and is well worth the wait. As soon as we got in and sat down we got asked by HER a total of three times whether we were ready but all three times were within a short time frame and every time we said no SHE (I'm talking about one waitress in particular because the other waitresses were nice but not this one with the glasses) would give us an annoyed look. I know you guys are busy and all but we just stood outside for over an hour, you could at least be a little patient with us. After we ordered it didn't take too long for us to get our food but at least two times it was THAT lady who handed it to us and each time she threw it in one corner of the table and when i say threw she literally put it down roughly and loudly. Luckily the remaining two dishes were served by a kinder waiter. After we were all done and they gave us the check we realized they have a mandatory gratuity charge for orders over $100 or parties of 5 or more (they did have that noted in their menus). We got done packing our food and were finishing our tea when she came over and asked if our check was ready and when we said no she gave us that "look" again and even took our tea pot away. That was just adding insult to injury but since all four of us were from the restaurant industry we know how important tips are to the wait staff so we accepted the charge they applied even though the service SHE provided definitely did not deserve the $18 they charged us. Saburo's has good sushi, their portions are HUGE, and they have reasonable prices but each time I've been here customer service wasn't their strongest suit and especially this time was the worst. They seem to know they will always be busy and will always have people lining up thus they don't seem to care how they treat their customers. Getting people in and out quickly seems to be their ultimate goal which is understandable since their seating area is not big at all and there are still scores of people lining up outside however charging us for shoddy service and then subliminally shooing us away shouldn't be the way they treat customers who come from all over Oregon and stand outside for hours just to eat at your restaurant.

    (2)

  • C P.

    Giant rolls, which is good, except if you want to order several kinds...you end up with too much food and sushi is never as good later. Fish is fresh and large portions as well. My husband raves about it, I find it to be adequate, but don't eat raw fish besides salmon and it's a bit overwhelming here. For sushi in Portland it's a good value, doesn't compare to Vancouver BC prices for sushi, but quality does.

    (4)

  • Mary-Christine C.

    ***Late post: Last November I made a trip to Portland to visit a few friends and this was our first stop. To this day I have yet to come across a sushi restaurant as generous as Saburo's!*** Nigiri with slices of fish so large my chopsticks could barely grip them! The wait was long but at least you can reserve a spot. Space was VERY scarce so avoid large groups or special events. This is definitely more convenient for small groups and small people (lucky for me!). You can only make one order so make everything count! Toro tuna runs out quick. Fish so fresh it melts in your mouth. The eel nigiri was one of my favorites. We ordered so much extra and had 2 boxes of to-go full! I will most certainly return when i'm back in town.

    (5)

  • Janice S.

    Came here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We made sure to be in line by 4pm (they open at 4:30 on Saturdays). There's a small parking lot that they share with the other small businesses. We were lucky enought to score a parking spot in the lot. Or else we would have to park on the street. There were maybe about 15 people waiting ahead of us and the doors opened just a bit after 4:30. The tables are very close to each other so there isn't much privacy here. We opted to sit at the sushi bar. The way you order is that you're given a menu to mark which items you want and you can also write in things such as "No roe", etc. We knew the sushi and rolls here were huge, but that didn't stop us from ordering a lot for just the two of us! We had the red tuna and salmon sashimi, creamy scallop roll, dragon roll, rainbow roll, seared salmon nigiri, crab salad and albacore nigiri. The dragon and rainbow rolls were more specialty rolls. Both rolls were pretty good, but due to the size and ingredients, the rolls do start to get mushy and you will need to put it in a small plate to pick at and eat. Very hard to get these rolls in your mouth! The nigiris were good and the salmon sashimi was very fresh and melted in my mouth considering the huge and thicker cuts that I'm used to. The red tuna sashimi was just okay. It will probably take you about 2-3 bites to eat each piece. I really was able to eat about one piece of each sushi/roll. Yes, the portions are very huge so be prepared for that. It may not be the best, but overall, a pretty good and decent priced sushi place to eat at if you're in the Portland area.

    (4)

  • Caroline N.

    Like others have said, there's a looooong wait to get in. It's all just a matter of whether you're lucky enough to arrive when the tables are done eating... or if you come when they all just entered. The sushi here are big, but anybody who knows Japanese food knows that it's not supposed to be that big. I feel like your mouth is just swimming with fish, and the subtleties of the flavors are then lost. They have some good rolls though (anything with unagi is bomb) but again I wish they were smaller so that you could have room in your stomach to try more things. Sometimes they can be too saucy and heavy and just fall apart since you have to take multiple bites. Regardless, you know going in that the portion-to-price ratio will be very good! The house sake was tasty too! The service was meh, they want you in and out in a very timely manner. I've found the bussers to be friendlier than the servers.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Be prepared to wait. But definitely worth it. Nice that they give you a menu while you're waiting so you're ready to order once you get seated. No drills approach but huge portions! My favorite place to grab sushi in Portland!

    (4)

  • Camille Y.

    Saburo's totally delivers on my vision of sushi in the Pacific Northwest: ultra fresh, generous portions of fish for an unbeatable price. Sure, sushi purists will probably complain about the indelicateness of the completely HUGE cuts of fish, the lack of restraint and artfulness etc. etc. They're absolutely not wrong, but for sheer gluttonous gastronomic satisfaction and bang for your buck? Woohoo -- this is as good as it gets, anywhere!!! Come here to feast on nigiri, and you won't be disappointed -- you can find sloppy/fried/saucy rolls anywhere. The torosake (salmon belly) was hands down the all-time BEST -- and probably biggest -- piece of sushi I've ever had the pleasure of eating. And I eat a lot of sushi. Incredibly sweet and fresh and sooo decadently rich and fatty (at least it's omega 3s), it simply melted onto my tongue! Hamachi was a standout as well. Our party of 2 waited no longer than 20 minutes to be seated on a Friday evening shortly after the restaurant opened for dinner. But I would probably still give this place 5 stars even if I had to wait 2 hours.

    (5)

  • Gina T.

    Best super sized sushi restaurant I have ever been to! My 2 favorites are the salmon belly and philly crunchy roll. If you come to this restaurant then you definitely must try the salmon belly - I have never taste anything like it before! It's super tender~ Sadly there are some cons that this restaurant has...like what many other reviews said, you may need to wait over an hour to get in. My advice is to go on mon-thurs. Busy times are a hit or miss. There are tables available sometimes when you walk in but other times you need to wait 30min-1hour. If you want to play safe, arrive 15-30min early before opening time. It's always busy on fri-sun so it's better to try and make it to the first wave so arrive 30min before opening time. Another con is that you can only order once during their busy times and some of the servers will get upset when you ask for to-go boxes. Nevertheless, saburo still deserves 5 star since you get more than your money's worth when you go there and there is 1 exceptional server! If you go there often, you'll know who I'm talking about. He'll be willing to get whatever you order/want without being rude like some of the other servers who work there.

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    I was told that this is the best place for sushi in Portland...so I went. I like the TORO, and I'm so glad they had it...because that was pretty much all that was good. The rest were....just ok...and they put sooooo much rice with the sushi I ended up just eating the fish part towards the end. Oh, but their Shrimp Purses are yummy!!! Love it.

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    Went here based on a friends recommendation and boy was it worth it! Now as all others reviews stated to expect LONG WAITS, we showed up at 9p on Saturday night and waited only 15 minutes!! They close at 10, so by 930 it was half empty and people were walking in for late dinner no waiting (tip) Fast service, and portions were HUGE! Seriously I was shocked! Plus the pricing was cheap! Then I thought, it must be bad quality fish....but to my surprise, it was pretty darn good! I live in Hawaii so I have high expectations, but this place gets 2 thumbs up! Especially for being sushi in Oregon!! Only downside, it's dinner only, no lunch...bummer. But I will go back for sure!!

    (4)

  • Jessica R.

    The trick to coming to this place is to choose a time where most people are in school and working and are less likely to be out for dinner (mostly weekdays). I would say no matter when you come, expect a wait, but the less people in your party the better. Definitely worth the wait if you are in for some serious grubbing on sushi. Prices are crazy cheap considering the size of the portions that they give. I had sushi in Japan and Hawaii, but I have never seen a cut of sashimi so thick, not to mention the huge size of their rolls. Size was definitely a plus, but it did not conceal the fact that the fish was really fresh and satisfies my sushi cravings in Portland. Recommendations: Crunchy Alaska Roll Salmon Sashimi Hawaiian Roll Tempura Unagi

    (5)

  • Ahadin H.

    IF you are to expect breathtaking interior ambience, delicate sushi-ya aesthetics, polite crowd, great table service, the authentic ceremonial tea, organic wasabi, award winning sake, etc. to compliment the meal, then slowly back out the door, and go elsewhere. If you want to get angrily bit*hslapped by ginormous, un-pretentious, but real legit sashimi/nigiri, because after all these years in Portland you have yet to find that one sushi joint you long so desire, then this is IT. The UGLI-EST nigiris I have ever seen. Also the biggest. So huge their portion, that we (the SO and I) had to request the chef to cut all nigiri rice portions by half. 5 orders later (10 ginormous nigiris), we were defeated. Their handroll needs to be double-fist-handled! We ordered just one of those, that ended up being split for two. By all, means, come hungry. This is the sushi place that will fill you up like the sushi b*tch you are.

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    My favorite sushi place :) The sushi here are MONSTROUS, fresh, and absolutely delicious! They're only open for several hours during dinner and there's always a line, but it's totally worth the wait. People are usually lining up before the restaurant even opens. Crazy! The wait can vary between 15 minutes to over an hour. Bring a jacket because you'll be waiting outside. There's not really much around this restaurant. You can chill in the Starbucks from across the street if they're open; usually they are. I've never had any problem with their service here. The people here are always polite and prompt. Even though they say you can only order once, I've never had any issue if I want to order more. But that's rare, because I usually over-order as I forget how huge their sushi are. Saburo's doesn't offer the nicest decor or atmosphere but that's not what Saburo's is about. Yes, it's loud, crowded, often humid and hot, and DIRTY! There are crumbs on the seats, the table tops are sticky, and their restroom reeks. It irked me the first couple of times I went there, too. But Saburo's is about MONDO SUSHI! So yeah, ask for extra napkins, bring hand sanitizers, and don't drink too much -- OR take togo like my cousin-in-law. =D Personal Fave :) - Creamy Scallop - Sweet Raw Shrimp with Fried Shrimp Head - Salmon (Sake?) - Salmon Belly - Spicy Tuna Roll

    (4)

  • Youjung P.

    Bad Service and unjustified Auto Gratuity = dissatisfaction I went to Saburo with my girlfriends to enjoy some delicious sushi. Our experience left me so upset that I needed to write my first Yelp review to warn future diners. We waited over an hour and half which was expected since this restaurant is so popular. Once seated, we were ready to place our order. The waitress informed us that we must order what we want right then because they are too busy to take any additional orders once we get our food. Interesting take on customer service, but we were hungry so we went with it. We eventually received most of our order but were missing one Mt. Hood roll. We attempted to flag down the waitress multiple times to no avail. When she finally came we were already done eating what was brought out. We informed her that one roll did not come. We let her know that we would like to just cancel the order since it had been so long. She told us to wait and she would check on the status. She never came back to our table so I got up to locate her. When I found her she yelled at us and told us no. She said they were already making it and it would be at our table shortly. We waited another 10 minutes and it did not arrive so we flagged her down again. She was surprised it had not come. We told her again not to worry about it and just remove it from our check. We never received the roll and eventually she removed the charge from our receipt. Upon reviewing our receipt we noticed she charged us an automatic gratuity of 15%. Per the menu, the auto-gratuity is assessed on tables of 5 or more or receipts of over $100. We had a table to 4 and our check total was $70.16. We asked the waitress to remove the auto-gratuity. She was not happy with our request. She kindly asked us to make sure we leave her a tip. This was the first time since we had been there that she was friendly. Based on our serious lack of service we decided to leave a $4.00 tip. Honestly, she was lucky we were leaving anything at all. The waitress saw the $4.00 and told us if we gave her $20 she would give us $10 in return because she wanted a $10 tip. Coming from someone who is in the industry, I told her she did not deserve a $10 tip and to be happy we left her $4.00. She then mumbled that they are too busy and they don't need our business. I will never go back to this restaurant again. The sushi was great but the service was horrid. Like I stated earlier, I work in this industry and am appalled by the serious lack of care our waitress had. I could not imagine treating any of my customers in this manner. The owner of this business should be aware of his employees' customer service. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK YOUR RECEIPT TO ENSURE THEY DO NOT CHARGE YOU AN ADJUSTIFIED AUTO GRATUITY.

    (2)

  • Julia R.

    Yeah, Saburo gets a little bumpin' and the long wait is a bummer, but the sushi is worth it. Gigantic rolls and good prices. Leftovers for later are almost guaranteed.

    (4)

  • Andrew D.

    HUGE PORTIONS!!!! We made the mistake in ordering a lot of food. The udon is decent and the sushi is good quality. The prices are low in my opinion for what you get. The waits can be long, but well worth it.

    (5)

  • Mandar P.

    I love sushi, especially big size sushi. ;) I visit this place once in a while, whenever I feel like I can wait for at least 45 minutes for the food. This place is always crowded and one of the best sushi restaurants in Portland.

    (5)

  • Cvetiliana B.

    Their sushi may be huge, but bigger isn't always better. I love Salmon but theirs was just big, it didn't melt in my mouth like others. It was just thick and odd flavored to me. Tried other things that weren't great but won't base my review on them since their not things I would normally order anywhere anyway. Had this one soup too it was very salty with thick noodles, was loaded with some fried stuff I don't know what it was I forget, but the fried stuff quickly got mushy in the soup. The wait was nearly an hour. But even some of the rotating sushi places or whatever their called, are tastier for me. I went here on a date, the guy had taken his fiance here, that's okay, I always take dates to places other dates took me lol. But the problem was his complete disinterest in everything but the food... including me. Though if you talk about one of these isolated topics: the gym/body fat %'s, alcohol/partying, or food, he halfway lights up. If I was a guy, then girls would probably be added to the list, then repeat from the top! Yawn. Whatever happened to talking about Current events? Music? Movies? Philosophy? Traveling? Ones aspirations? What ever happened to inspiring each other? Educating each other? Laughing together? So yeah, it would have been nice had the food at least been the highlight of the evening LOL, really the waitress was. She was so cute and funny, much more engaging than my date who was perhaps reminiscing about old times with someone else LOL.

    (2)

  • Grace T.

    Long wait, but if you're looking for GIGANTIC SUSHI then this is the place for you!

    (4)

  • Alena C.

    Overall: The wait was too long for the food. There are too many good sushi places around to wait in a line here. A-Sushi roll sizes and Naguri Sushi is way to big. Not okay. B-Spicy Octopus Salad was the best thing. Yum. C- Don't even think about re-ordering.

    (3)

  • Lisa H.

    This was the first place I ate at when I visited Portland for the first time! It is really good! The sushi were so big and delicious! I wonder what the sashimi is like.. we only got rolls and udon that time I went. I highly recommend this place and will definitely go back. It's a bit cramped inside but cozy is nice :) Also we were lucky since there is usually a line, but people in our party were there early and waited in line. Don't expect to get a table right away!

    (4)

  • Amos Y.

    As everyone has said, this place serves super sized sushi for the same price as many other sushi joints. A piece of sashimi is like the size of a piece of SPAM. So it's quite a good deal. Of course their sushi quality is not top notch, jiro (watch jiro dreams of sushi) would probably cry at these abominations of sushi, but the quality is quite competitive with many other sushi restaurants, and the value is great. Yah, you have to wait in line for an hour, and they open around 4pm. But you can come and write down your name, than walk around for 45 mins then come back. They only allow you to order once, but remember to take into account the sushi size. We were getting pretty full, so to finish the sushi we ditched some of the rice. Also, the waitress told us that if you don't want so much rice you can ask them to reduce it, so as not to waste as much. Also we ordered the chef's choise sashimi, but sadly that sashimi was normal sized, and tasted pretty much the same as the nigiri sushi equivalents, but just cost more.

    (5)

  • Nina H.

    This place has the craziest sushi EVER. And by crazy, I mean CRAZY BIG. Oh my goodness. I swear the eel was the length of my friend's face. It was ridiculously large but ridiculously scrumptious!!! I love sushi and the two almost three hour wait for this restaurant was worth it. I came with three other people and we were told to wait forever but we decided to venture around the block to kill time and we ended up finding another joint to sit and drink wine while we waited. So the wait wasn't too bad but I would've given Saburo's 5 stars if the place was more accommodating to eliminate unnecessarily lengthy wait times. We ordered a plethora or sushi... eel, california rolls, creamy scallops (TO DIE FOR!), salmon, tuna, and a lot more than I cannot remember right now. We also ordered hot sake to go with the sushi because that is a must at sushi restaurants. It was absolutely tasty and soo cheap! I love the no tax thing in Portland. People who live near Saburo's are so blessed... and I'm truly jealous because I am definitely a fan!

    (4)

  • Mimi V.

    I came here because my friends said it was really good. We waited for 1.5 hours. Was it worth it? No. Maybe 15 minutes max i would wait. Nonethless, the sushi was HUMONGO, i dont know if that's a good thing or bad, but to me i like a normal size sushi that will fit in your mouth so you could taste everything. The sushi didnt had anything special about it besides the size of it. The green tea was really diluted with water. I tried a chow mein dish and it was really salty. If i lived in the area, i would come back, but because i live in California, it would be a waste of my time to stop by this place. Service: 3 Food: 2.5 Overall: 3.0

    (3)

  • Jesse M.

    Big portions and good fresh taste. Expect a wait and sign up on a list. Recently, they have a new hostess who seems to not understand the concept of a list, specifically that you should go down the list instead of skipping 8-10 customers of same group size. Today, instead of a simple wait that most pdx'rs are used to, people have to compete to get her attention. I hope they once again figure out this very simple concept soon.

    (3)

  • Sola L.

    3 stars only. I guess I just expected more. The people I went with said this is by far one of the best sushi places in Portland. I sure hope not... The wait was ridiculously long. My friend had to put our names down 2-3 hours before. That made it seemed like this place would be amazing... We ordered 4 rolls and the ahi tuna appetizer. The rolls in general were good, but nothing to die for. They were not amazing. The fish did taste fresh. Some of the rolls were too big and not rolled tight enough (which made them fall apart once you picked them up with chopsticks). I did like the ahi tuna appetizer though, I think that was my favorite. We also had a round of miso soup, but it was watery. I definitely had better elsewhere. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating, which was appreciated. I'm not sure if I'll be back here especially if there is a long wait.

    (3)

  • Shane N.

    HUGE Portions! CHEAP! Tasty! This is the only restaurant I go to any more to get my sushi fix. Just be aware the lines are long, be prepared for a wait. About $40 for two people for more sushi than you can eat.

    (5)

  • David G.

    I have heard people intentionally get long lay-overs in between flights so they can leave PDX to come to this restaurant. All though inconvenient I believe it, judging from the long line waiting if you get there after opening time. Every time I take someone from out of town hear, they do not believe me when I talk about the enormous portions, the artisan care of the sushi and value in price. Only when we are served do their jaws drop. My guests from L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Seattle are all amazed. They cannot stop talking about the price and portions. Don't go there for ambience, you can only order once due to the long waiting guests behind you. The service has become much more friendly over the years, since Mrs. Saburo had a couple kids, stayed at home and stopped working there (we nicknamed her Sushi Nazi :-) Definitely a must for all Portland Sushi Lover Visitors.

    (5)

  • Christy W.

    Love this place - I constantly crave their giant, fresh sashimi and friendly service. The long wait is part of the fun so you can go enjoy a drink or two at one of the many fabulous neighboring bars. Even if they miss your name being called at Subaros, once you show back up they will call you next. A friend and I went there and stuffed ourselves full of oysters, sushi, and sake and the grand total was $55. Can't beat that!

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Our search for a go-to sushi bar continues. Having heard good things, we came here at 4:45 on a Saturday expecting to waltz right in. The massive line came as a bit of a shock, but I was encouraged that a fairly high number of those waiting appeared to be Japanese (which is sometimes an indicator of authenticity). For half a moment I thought we'd found a gem. Our wait turned out to be 2 hours but fortunately we were able to grab a couple glasses of wine next door. When we were finally seated, I got a good look at the food being eaten by the people around us and at the work being done behind the bar. The nigiri was comically large and the rolls were larger. This wouldn't be an authentic experience, but I'm not such a snob that I can't enjoy some good rolls and a few glasses of sake, authenticity be damned. I asked the server if she could recommend a sake and her response was to ask whether I'd tried sake before. Forget authentic, this was going to be amateur hour. My hand roll was the size of a baby's leg. Nonetheless, it was decently tasty. The few pieces of nigiri I ordered (as a quality barometer) were massive but quality was decent. I ended up cutting some in half, making two normal sized pieces. The seared salmon actually had a very good flavor, as did the creamy scallop. Uni was not good and the actual sea urchin helping was surprisingly far smaller than what is typical. Then again, what the heck was I thinking ordering uni at this place anyway? Sweet shrimp was OK and came with the fried head, which is my favorite part. One of our rolls was very good and the other was not nearly as good. Everything had a ton of rice and, again, was ridiculously proportioned. If there is one word that sums up how I felt upon leaving Saburo's it is "ashamed". Ashamed that I waited 2 hours. Ashamed that I gorged on mammoth nigiri whose very existence is an affront to the art of sushi making. Most of all, ashamed that I sort of enjoyed it. If you measure the "value" of your sushi by the size of each piece, by all means this is the place for you. If you know better but need to squelch your sushi cravings for the next 6-8 weeks, this may also be the place for you.

    (3)

  • Dorene S.

    This Mom and Pop place is awesome! I've been to many sushi restaurants around the Portland and I've been a huge fan for years - fresh, big sushi. Favorites are Sake (Salmon), Unagi (Eel), Tamago (Egg), and Uni (Sea Urchin)...mainly like them because they're HUGE and fresh. Poke tuna and their fresh oysters on the half shell when they have them as specials (which seems to be everyday nowadays) are pretty awesome too. The fresh oysters on the half shell are dabbed with the most amazing citrus-like soy sauce. In regards to the "sushi-nazi" saying that you can only order once...well, they've let me add on orders the very few times that I've asked them to , even though there are miles of people waiting so YMMV. Not a fan of lining up unless there's a REALLY good reason to do it, I usually get there around 4:00 pm on Saturdays to line up - that way we only have to wait for 30 minutes!! KPI (Key Performance Indicators) ratings (1-5, 5 - best): Quality: 4 Delivery/Service: 3 (come here for the food, not service...and they don't allow any reservations) Cost: 5 (huge portions for the price)

    (5)

  • John Q.

    Worth the wait every time!

    (5)

  • Kimberly P.

    I don't know how I had never been to this place before now! Before you go, don't be surprised that there is a long wait. This place is well known and very popular, so it's no surprise that you may be waiting well over an hour. You can leave your phone number with them, go down the street to one of the shops or bars and they'll call you when your table is about ready. What you can expect here is some fantastic sushi - in American sized portions! You have to be a little strategic in what you order. You are only allowed to order the one time, so if you didn't get enough then tough luck. But at the same time you wouldn't order nearly as much as other sushi restaurants. Their sushi rolls are more like logs. The fish comes in slabs. It's pretty incredible. What keeps me from giving this place five stars is that you really do feel like you're being herded in and out of this place. I understand where they're coming from, they have a lot of patrons and they want to get everyone in. But it's also not very friendly that right after paying the bill, the busser asks you to please leave as other people are waiting for your table.

    (4)

  • Julie T.

    Good: portions are big, cheap, and there's a large selection of sushi Bad: long wait time, and crowded Overall: I like this place because it satisfies your sushi craving and it's a favorite for many because you have so much to choose from. I usually come here with a large party which takes longer to get seating, but if you're here for a small group of 2-4, seating isn't too bad. I'd recommend to go a little before the opening because the lines do get pretty long. Bring an umbrella. Parking is scarce as well - but you can park in residential areas.

    (4)

  • Bryan I.

    Great quality Sushi (B+) combined with awesome prices/portions (A+) in a cozy (albeit usually packed) sushi house. A line of customers out the door is almost guaranteed on even a chilly winter evening, and is a testament to the devoted patrons & great quality of this satisfying little restaurant. The tempura is worth trying, the spider roll is delicious (a must if you've never tried soft-shell crab), & the karate roll is excellent for all eel lovers! Honestly, it's pretty hard to go wrong with any of the rolls & sashimi they offer, and if you have a large group, get one (or two) of the huge platters! There are one or two other sushi bars in PDX with better quality, but I guarantee you'll go home with a bill 2-4x higher than if you went here. If you don't show up right around opening or go super late, you're likely to put your name on a list with at least a 45-60min wait (don't hesitate going to the coffee shop or taking a walk to kill a few minutes). Oh, and don't forget to try the red bean ice-cream (unless you're a huge green tea fan).

    (5)

  • Jake W.

    HUGE portions! Top quality. No wonder we had to wait. It was worth it. And I got a crush on Yoyo.

    (5)

  • Stefanie S.

    Amazing...worth the 60 minute wait!

    (5)

  • Amanda I.

    The sushi here is always fresh, huge, and delicious! Despite the wait, I have returned to this place again and again and it never disappoints.

    (5)

  • Marissa P.

    By far the biggest pieces of sushi I have ever seen, let alone tried to stuff in my mouth! Oh so delicious! So love this place, food is amazing but the wait on a Saturday night is unreal. Our group literally waited 1.5 hours to get a table. When the wait is this long they do require you to order before you are seated. We were told that once you order you are done, you may not order again. While extremely efficient, this isn't very guest friendly. This is the only reason I won't give them 4 stars. Love that you food is almost ready by the time you sit down. However, hate having to order all at once, and in the case of our group, we over ordered by an extremely large amount. Consequence of leaving six hungry people on the street I'm sure. I get wanting to get as many parties sat as possible, I understand wanting to have food ready when you sit down. However, it would just be nice to be able to place an additional order. Service was fast and attentive, food was delicious, sushi was very flavorful and fresh.

    (4)

  • C L.

    What's not to love when sushi goes extra large? This is one of those times when size does matter! Recommend: creamy scallops, dragon roll, Alaskan roll. Be prepared to wait in line. We came on a Tue night and waited 40 mins. Also, you can only order ONCE!

    (4)

  • DJ Z.

    The sushi here is great. The portions are big, the prices are reasonable and the quality is high. The staff, however, couldn't care less about service. It's basically a situation where they're so busy, nobody HAS to care. People line up outside this restaurant for 30-60 minutes before they open and once they get inside they get no attention. I'm just going to start ordering my sushi to go.

    (3)

  • Lily D.

    The best time to go here is before they open, that way you don't have to wait for hours and keep seeing delicious to-go food in transparent containers. However, once you get inside, you won't be sorry. The orders usually come fairly quickly and their hot tea is free. The only roll that I would order there is the spider roll. Because of the large portion, you can taste the crunchy soft shell crab which is rare at other places. The rest of the rolls are ok, sometimes too much rice and not worth filling your stomach for. What is worth filling your stomach for would be: 1. Baby octopus: super crunchy on the outside and when you bite into it, a soft and lightly juicy texture will pleasantly fill your mouth. We would order this every time we go there. 2. Unagi: fresh-water eel. My friend described their unagi like this: "If the unagi at most other places can be compared to a piece of dry pork, then this is a perfectly cooked piece of pork belly." The pieces are very thick with layers of meat and fat blended to give a full flavor that unagi is supposed to have. 3. Your favorite nigiri, be it salmon, salmon belly, seared salmon, yellow tail, albacore, tuna, seared tuna, etc: Order it! The portion of fresh fish versus the price is definitely worth the wait. Honestly, I have not found any other place that I can get full on the fish alone for $3-5 per order. (We stopped eating the rice after the 2nd or 3rd piece to keep us from being too full). 4. Hamachi karma: Grilled yellowtail neck. $4.50 for a big piece of thick, juicy grill fish. Why not? 5. And if you have never tried uni (gonads of sea urchin that do not look very appetizing but taste like butter made in heaven): Try it here! It is relatively inexpensive compared to other places and they give you 2 quail eggs to put on top for 50 cents! And again, if you don't want to wait too long, get there at 4:30 on weekdays and 4 on Sat/Sun. Update: recently I found that if you get there late, like 8:30 on some days then you may not have to wait long either, but this method is not consistent so you may try it to see if you get lucky. :)

    (4)

  • Plume Z.

    Saburo only worth for you to wait like one hour to half an hour. More than two hours, you will go crazy... Sushi here is really large, so share with your friends is best choice. Don't oder rolls, unless you want "to go" most of them. Six sushi is the most suitable quantity. Recommend, Deep-fried baby octopus Inari Unagi Uni Smoked Salmon Seared Salmon

    (4)

  • Michele M.

    Let's just say that the rice portions are massive with the nigiri sushi platter!!! You get your money's worth but still can't seem to get past the RICE...

    (4)

  • Susan C.

    Saburo is one of those places you go to for shock value. It's like a tourist trap. Don't get me wrong, it is one of my faves and the sushi is delicious. But the length of the wait is outrageous, as is the portion sizes. A few tips: don't go in large groups (you'll wait much longer), arrive by 4:30pm or before they open, and if you normally order four maki rolls or nigiri in a typical restaurant, I'd stick with two. Trust me, they are the size of my head.

    (4)

  • Eric F.

    This is a place whose calling card is super-sized sushi. The price is reasonable and the taste decent which makes this a favorite of so many. The décor, service, and taste is unremarkable. This place is a tremendous hit with college students, for whom the pleasure of eating to complete and absolute fullness for not-so-much money is particularly important. I am a crusty middle-aged guy who tries to avoid overeating. The pleasure of sushi is that so many different tastes, textures, ingredients can be experienced at a sitting. Having gigantic pieces of fish limits the variety of my meal, so despite the good value, the large pieces are ultimately a drawback. Another problem with the huge pieces is that they are difficult to eat, usually falling apart from plate to mouth. When I eat sushi rolls I like the pieces not to fall apart so all ingredients can combine in my mouth. Also problematic, the chefs assemble the complete sushi order before sending it out. Some of the sushi may have been sitting on the serving platter for 10 minutes or so, making the nori soggy and chewy, exacerbating the falling-apart problem. I would prefer to have sushi be a rarer experience and pay more for it - I feel Americans reflexively super-size things to the detriment of cuisine and to our waistlines.

    (2)

  • Roanna L.

    Only just worth the one hour wait. The sushi itself is quite good but just not comparable to some sushi restaurants I've been to. Servings are incredibly generous, and raw fish is as fresh as you can get in Portland. Definitely recommend the unagi. I do hope the owners plan to expand...the long lines may add to the hype of the place as one drives by, but for those looking for a last minute dinner, Saburo's is a pass.

    (4)

  • E T.

    Are you the patient type? You have to expect to have a long wait. This is a place to have an "experience." The sushi is HUGE. Every time I go, I forget I always have leftovers. LEFTOVERS!!! When my family or friend comes from Japan, they want to go to Saburo, because it is such a unique experience. Inexpensive, huge, good sushi. Since Saburo has to sell a lot to make ends meet, the service feels a little rushed. But it is understandable. If you want to have a luxurious, relaxed sushi experience, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you want to have good sushi to your heart's content and don't mind an hour's wait outside of the restaurant, you should definitely try it.

    (4)

  • Kristina B.

    Super fresh and yummy food. Zero ambiance. If you're craving sushi and you're really hungry, their portions are abnormally large. GO! If this is a date and you want atmosphere where you can enjoy your company- skip it and go another time. It's great for what it is! Always expect to wait. One tip: Put your name on the list and go across the street to Kay's Bar for a cocktail while you wait.

    (3)

  • LeAnn E.

    I'm sorry to those die hard fans of this place but, I am not at all a supporter at all. I've been there numerous times and each time I walk out disappointed. For one...the pieces are huge. You can't get all the flavors of the sushi in one bite, 2 or 3 if your lucky. Two...the place is soooo small. Three.....waiting for over an hour for crappy sushi, isn't a lot of fun. Prices are ok...quality is not so ok. Sorry...I'm out on this one.

    (2)

  • Jamie W.

    I'm unsure if I should give this place 5 stars or 1 star. It's like an old friend that I'm mad at. So it gets 3 stars. This used to be my favorite place to eat sushi. It's always been a long wait, and always a bit crowded, but if it's just you and a date or a double date it's survivable. The portion size is fabulous! The hand rolls are giant, the sushi and rolls are huge, and the salmon skin salad is amazing. HOWEVER. It has become so popular and they are open only a few hours a day, that until they expand I will never go back. It has gone from bearable to worse than the lines on a Black Friday morning with a slap in the face at the end. Last time we went we waited in line for almost 2 hours (it used to be 30min-1hr.), we finally made it in only 20 minutes until closing. We ordered our food and handed it to the waitress. We waited and waited and watched many people get their food ahead of us. Finally people started leaving and they started cleaning up and we still didn't get our food. The waitress never even put our order in or it was lost. THEN, she rushed us through ordering & we didn't even get what we originally wanted. And to top it off there was no discount at all... the waitress thought she was being so nice by simply offering us a free refill on our soda pop. Woopdie doo. We spend $70 that night and had a terrible experience. I will never go back as long as they are operating as they are. Our new favorite: Takahashi. In fact, I'm going to head over to give them a five star review now.

    (3)

  • Khanh T.

    One of my fav sushi restaurants I've ever been to! I will admit NEVER go there on a saturday night because you will have to expect to wait for at least 2 hours. The portions are massive and the price is great. I would normally spend 30 to 40 bucks at a sushi restaurant but if you eat at Saburos expect to spend no more then 30 for twice the size. Of course I've had better fish but this is me being a food snob and tried many sushi restaurants. But Saburos definately meets my expectations and more. This is a must try.

    (5)

  • Claudia P.

    Went there twice in three days because my bf who is originally from OR is a crazy fan. The first time, we waited for about 45 mins, and the second time was twice as long as the first time! I heard we were luck to have to wait for just 45 mins for the first time! The portion was twice as big as what you would normally have at other Japanese restaurants. Didn't try Americanized rolls. Only ordered traditional maki, nigiri and sashimi. So my opinion can only applied to these categories. Quality wise, it will not be top notch. But value wise, it is no doubt the best ever!! Given the above-average quality, the price is exceptionally low. I was stunned when I saw the Unagi, which turned out to be my favorite at Saburo. The only disappointment was the toro which did not live up to my expectation of otoro. Even though it's much cheaper that other places, i rather pay additional bucks for better grade. Other than that, nothing to complain. Sea urchins and giant clams were both sweet and fresh. Since these are my must-have items, I would be totally satisfied when they are good. I do agree that some waiters are not as friendly as others. You'd be lucky if your table is served by the friendly ones... but, I'll still stop by next time I go to Portland.

    (5)

  • Ana B.

    I have tried to come to Saburo twice. Once they were " closed for summer vacation " huh? Next they did not open until dinner. Finally I came when they were open and after a 45 min wait I was swept inside. Gauging the size of the place to the size of the people waiting It is my estimation that 45 + min wait should be anticipated if you want to eat here. I ordered 4 rolls which came out to a total of 24$ including a beer! The spicy tuna roll, which is normally a staple classic for me was kinda meh. The Sabu Roll was my favorite. What really made the sushi was the generous portions of fish, the rolls are huge! What really turned me off to the sushi was the use of mayonnaise. I absolutely hate mayonnaise. Strangely enough I was so into the sushi that this did not detour me from plowing through all the rolls. Afterwards I was hit with eaters remorse that I had taken down all that mayonnaise filled sushi. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back..I'm just withholding a star. This place is truly a tiny treasure. Very Tiny..so tiny in fact that they pack the tables together so that you feel like you're eating with a bunch of strangers. I found myself nervously smiling at the people at the next table like I was on an awkward blind date. I felt strangely protective over my food like the person next to me might reach over to try it. There is nothing romantic about being able to touch the elbow of the random person next to you while you eat, so although the food is great I'd refrain from taking a first date here. Arigato Saburo!

    (4)

  • Justin S.

    I am giving this a 4 star because Yay! I am a fan. This is more of a traditional style sushi place, not over the top with fancy decorations stuffed with minced fish and K-rab. I really enjoy Saburo in the later evening on weekdays because it tends to be less crowded. The tight seating and lack of elbow room are very reminiscent of a Tokyo restaurant. The chefs are Japanese and are very good with their knives. Slicing the fish large and pretty is an art, and it's evident they've practiced. Again the portions are large and for the most part the quality is good. I had some ootoro there the other week and it was delicious. Here is some suggestions that I've found to be consistently good: Shake-toro (salmon belly) Anago Ootoro (Bluefin belly--if available) real crab california roll creamy-hotate (mayo-scallop) Make sure to say Gochisousama after your meal. P.S. My 5-year-old wanted me to let you all know that her favorite is: Tamago!

    (4)

  • Jess P.

    Do not go here on a first date. Go here once your significant other is well accustomed to you stuffing your mouth with too large of portions and having chipmunk face until you've sufficiently chewed. The portions are humongo. No, no. That doesn't quite explain the enormity of these rolls. The sushi here is some kind of rice roll/titan hybrid. Ginormo. Ridiculo. but, Delicioso. As a disclaimer- I am a vegetarian sushi enthusiast. I loved sushi before I quit eating meat, and I still want to get my fix, just sans fish. The vegetarian selection is limited (as should be expected) but there are some good choices. My favorite was just the simple avocado roll. The seaweed salad was also delectable. My friend got the sashimi and he said it was delicious and by far the biggest portion he has ever received. The service is a bit slow because the place is packed! But considering the amount of people, I think the food came out relatively quick. It isn't my favorite sushi place in Portland. But the place is still quite tasty and the portions (have I mentioned?) are gigantuam. Seriously, we're talking Hulk here. You wouldn't like them when they're mad.

    (3)

  • larry h.

    We come here every time we visit Portland - but apparently so does everyone else - be prepared for for a line that wraps around the building! On Saturdays it opens at 4.30pm. We looked at the waiting list - and [eople began waiting at 4.35pm!!! We arrived at 5.11pm and wrote our names on the clipboard that they post outside the door. We rejoiced as they called our names at 7.15pm for our party of 5. (During our wait, we visited the QFC around the corner and the Starbucks which is kitty corner to Saburos). However, when the food came - it was all worth it. Portions are large - one of my friends commented by saying the unagi looked like baby eels instead of slices of eel, it was that big. The gf and I ordered a california roll, hawaiian roll (which is wrapped in cucumber), karate roll, and tuna roll which was more than enough since we had leftovers (and spent less than $30) So let's do the Saburo math: HUGE portions + good prices = llloooongggg lines. PS: Not a place I'd bring a large group

    (5)

  • hannah k.

    One of my favorite sushi restaurants in PDX! They are a unique sushi place where the nigiri cuts of fish are huge and delicious. One order of nigiri (2 pieces) will equal to about 4 pieces of nigiri at any other sushi restaurant. I always order uni and yellowtail nigiri, Hawaiian Roll, Sabu Roll and Salmon collar. The salmon collar is some of the most delicious salmon i've ever had. It's fatty, soft, so flavorful and i love it. I don't think you could order something here that you wouldn't like. My friend who's a sushi chef said their sushi rice is exceptional!

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    Wow! With all the hype and the long lines I expected some decent sushi. Even if I were to excuse the hour plus wait, the cramped environment inside and the rushed feeling of the dining experience, I couldn't give them over a 2 star rating. This isn't sushi, it's huge slabs of blah fish on blah rice crammed onto a plate. The should forgo the chopsticks as they have the art of sushi, and give you a fork and steak knife with which to stuff your face. Ah well, with as many high ratings as they get it is obvious to each their own. Me, no thanks.

    (1)

  • Bob B.

    Portland's finest. you know place is serious when people in line tell you how to order. That's great but I am extremely antisocial so I prefer not to be talked to by strangers. Good thing they have a list you can write your name on. Service is a little rude, but most Asian ladies are when you come in right before they close. Anyway, stick to nigiri if you are a champion of the world. If not, rolls are whatever your flavor is. You want to impress a visiting sushi champion, this is the place. Also a cheap date, most twigs these days will be sufficed by a California roll and miso soup. Water to drink of course. bang bang'

    (5)

  • jayR f.

    With all the hype I have been hearing about this place. If I could I would give this place a negative rating. I was hoping it would have met or exceeded my expectations. But no this place is the biggest EPIC FAILURE of a sushi restaurant I have ever been to in my life. Seriously.. how do ou mess up on edemame? The smoked salmon wasnt smoked. The seared salmon had no flavor. The cuts of sashimi were cut like a slab of beef. All I can say is if you are looking for a good sushi restaurant this is NOT I repeat NOT the place to go.. I would have rather eaten track sushi instead of this place.!!

    (1)

  • Jens J.

    You know, Saburo's reminds of Claim Jumper. Sushi rolls the size of burrito that you eat with both hands (which does look a bit odd). We were surprised and pleased to come here last night and just have a five minute wait for a table. I think the menu cards that you fill out are a great idea, it reduces the risk chance for a goof-up between you and the kitchen, but not entirely as we were to find out. We started with the Octo Sunomo salad. This delicious and colorful salad came with a recognizable strip of octopus but also delightful little shreds of marinated octopus as well. I definitely recommend! For another appetizer we had the Baby Octupus. This octopus was also marinated, bright red and very good. I also highly recommend. You might gather that I am rather fond of octopus, and I am! Then came the Big O Roll. Not sure what it had as far as fish, but I think it was salmon and a white fish. Came with a very nice dipping sauce. Next, we had the Spider Roll. Huge! And delicious, of course. We then split an order of chicken teriyaki. It came with broccoli, cabbage and carrot. It had an excellent sauce (not that lousy oversweet goop that most teriyaki joints use). The teriyaki automatically comes with miso soup and ice cream. But that leads me to say that service was only fair. While orders were delivered quickly to the table, no one ever came around to refill our water glasses. Also, I had to remind them to bring me the delicious and fluffy green tea ice cream at the end of the meal. And now I realize as I write this review, they forgot to give me my miso soup. I guess with all the other wonderful food around me, I just forgot. Still, that's gonna cost a star.

    (3)

  • Erik P.

    Colossal size sushi! Everything is like 4 times the average size. Get all salmon nigiri, it the best I've ever had, and did I mention the portions are colossal. Red tuna was alright. In the tuna's defense, I'm a sucker for fish fat at the red tuna is pretty lean. The wait staff aren't exactly friendly, but they are efficient.

    (5)

  • Liz K.

    Amazing!!!! The photos show it all!

    (5)

  • Amy A.

    Saburo makes you feel like you've magically learned to unhinge your jaw and have opened wide to face an ocean of sushi! Let these huge pieces of buttery raw fish slide down your gullet!

    (5)

  • Todd M.

    When we first moved here, ( we live 3 blocks away) we ate here at least once a week 9 years later, we haven't been in there in over 3 years. We love Saburo, his wife Joyce, Antonio his brother Gaudi, and everyone else who works there. What we've learned over the years, is that whatever Saburos is, it isnt awesome sushi. If you're short on funds, or not a serious sushi devotee, then you'll probably love it.

    (2)

  • Nina N.

    I love this place! Although the wait to get a table is pretty long, it's well worth it. I come about once or twice a month with a group of friends from out of state. Our orders are always big due to us getting extras for take out. Staff is always friendly and don't complain about our huge orders. Wait for food can take a while since it's always so busy. But when the food does come out, it is always well presented and delicious! My favorites are the seared salmon, sea eel (unagi), and Sabu roll (heh, Sabu Ro-). The salmon cheeks are also pretty good (says my friend), but I have yet to try. Perhaps next time? Prices for rolls and nigiri are well worth it as well. Each nigiri comes with two, and are a little over twice as large than the average nigiri size. Fish is cut medium to thick on bed of rice. Rolls are huge and probably would take two bites, unless you're brave enough to have chipmunk cheeks. Well worth the chipmunk cheeks though. As for bringing groups, the place is pretty small. They probably have about 15 or so tables. I'd say keep your group no larger than 5 or 6. Any more, and you're most likely going to have to wait for a long time. 30 minutes minimum. Very likely to come again! Glad they're open all week now. Yay!

    (5)

  • Danielle K.

    Since I've moved to upstate New York, I've acquired an affinity for sushi. I really like it a lot, and many of my friends in New York go regularly. In Portland, I rarely, if ever, go. But now I'm making a new commitment. Because sushi is great. And healthy. So the other night, I go to Saburo's. I was born and raised in this part of the hood, and I've always seen the long lines for this place and wondered what the hell was so great. It's been like this for years. So finally, after 26 years of watching people stand outside for sushi, I finally go to check it out with a few homies in tow. While we had about a 25 minute wait, this place did not disappoint. The prices were comparable to any other sushi restaurant I'd been to in Albany (perhaps even slightly cheaper), and there is lots to choose from. The big difference is actually a HUGE difference. A GINORMOUS difference. Yup, it's the size here that counts. The rolls and nigiri are the size of your head. No joke. There is so. much. fish. So come hungry! Now, a few people have told me that it's not the best sushi they've ever had. I've never had flat-out bad sushi, so I am not the best person to attest to the quality, but I did think that everything from the miso soup and seaweed salad to the spicy tuna and salmon rolls were damn tasty. And I definitely got my money's worth. Also worth noting, while the line may be long, the service is quick! Definitely will be wanting to come back here before my return to NY.

    (4)

  • Feuy S.

    Quantity over quality. No thanks.

    (2)

  • TanyaKatt G.

    This used to be my all time favorite sushi place, awesome sushi, great service, etc....NOW....no way! The portions are still huge and the fish is still fresh but the customer service sucks.....its too bad that they have allowed this place to go so down hill. Part of delivering a great meal to a customer is customer service and if the customer service isnt there I don't really care how big or how fresh the fish is....I won't go there again.

    (1)

  • Matthew S.

    The sushi there is good and they are def. great with portion size...The house rolls are crazy big. My only negative remarks are the lack of space, especially if you were in a group more then 4 and the service could be slightly better.

    (4)

  • Raja S.

    This place has good sushi and the size of some of the rolls is huge. I tried quite a few of my favorite rolls like Unagi (eel), California, Spicy Tuna - all of them were good. The salmon raw sushi was also good. In general, all of the sushi was decent to pretty good. The vegetable tempura was just okay. Would definitely go there again (only wished it was closer). The downside of the place is the wait - about 45 minutes or more on Friday evening. However, the service is quite fast, the wait is primarily from the place being small (in other ways, cramped). The other thing that I found weird with the place is that you have to get all of your order in one shot - so, we just ended up ordering more than what we consumed and had about 2-3 servings of sushi as to-go (which was the case with many other customers). Street parking is plenty.

    (4)

  • Mitchell F.

    The last year and a half I have been here three times. To make it better, I have been here twice in a month. Though the wait takes forver, the value and the quality is so much better than any other sushi place that I have been to. For a table of two or five, you really are trading time for the food! Thick pieces of seafood, and not to mention super fresh. The staff is super friendly and is very helpful with seating you at the next available table. Ever since Ive been here to Saburo's I eventually stopped going to sushi places here in Seattle.

    (5)

  • N I.

    I am at the table utterly disgusted. Enough to stop eating and write this review. There is no feeling miserable enough to compare with this sushi experience. To keep it simple, the restuarant stinks, the staff have a very poor attitude, and more importantly the fish, in any form, nigiri or maki (rolls) is unpalatable. The piece are gigantic, the fish has an aweful stench and feels like it's been left out to rot in the sun before being sloppy chopped up and rolled around mammoth balls of rice. Please save you stomach and your time. We waited an hour to get a table. Seeing the other positive reviews leaves me dumbstruck. I don't recommend this restaurant to even my enemies.

    (1)

  • Beth W.

    I'm no sushi expert, but my girlfriend and I LOVE this place. Biggest rolls in the universe filled with jumbo deliciousness. And it's SOOOO cheap. Here's a list of some of my favorite things: a) Side salad with the peanut dressing. b) Dofu soup with tofu. c) All the veggie rolls are divine. d) House sake. Arrive when they open because people know that Saburo's is the ticket and you could seriously wait 1.5 to 2 hours. Service has always been nice but one time the server recommended sweet potato and it was delicious, but the addition was more expensive than the roll! Wish he'd told us it was $4 more dollars. I always leave this place with a box of leftovers and major sake high.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Biggest rolls, freshest sushi, longest wait= Saburo's in a nutshell

    (5)

  • Ulli H.

    Amazing sushi! Very fresh and tasty and the biggest pieces I've ever seen in my life. And the best? They charged extremely reasonable prices. I've never eaten such huge and good sushi for this little money. Keep up the great work!

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    Best sushi place in Oregon! Get the spider roll

    (5)

  • Maria P.

    Food poisoning deserves 0 stars. This is the second time I've tried this place and I just don't get it. The pieces are so huge that you can't fit them in your mouth... And there's so much rice that you can't even taste anything else. After not being impressed with the wait or the sushi, I had food poisoning for the next 2 days... And same with my roommate (the only thing we share was the ebi rolls). It hit us both at the same time and he was hit worse than me. Ugh. The thought of bad sanitation/contamination continues to make my stomach cramp up.

    (1)

  • Todd H.

    I went to Soburo's for the first time recently. The first thing you see is a long line of people waiting to get in. The second thing is a sign that says expect a 45 -60 minute wait, so you figure with all these people waiting it must be good, so you wait and finally get in. We ordered hot Saki and Miso to start. 20 minutes later no Saki or Miso (even though some people who came in after us have theirs ) 10 minutes later the Miso shows up but still no Saki. 10 more minutes and the Sushi and Saki ( finally ) are brought to our table. The pieces of Sushi are huge, but the taste is only average. The Tuna on my Maguro is the most uneven ( Lumpy ?) piece of Tuna I've ever been served on a piece of Sushi. ( Dull knife...Saw ? ) I also ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll. It has a Lot of red sauce ( not spicy though, more like Tomato Paste ). Don't waste your time here, there are many great places to get Sushi in Portland but this isn't one of them

    (1)

  • Bradford D.

    I love sushi, but sometimes I forget the difference between "good sushi" and "bad sushi". Fish is fish on rice right? I mean, I know the sushi-go-round places are technically the "bad sushi" types, but I'll still eat it. And then I go to Saburo's, where I am kindly reminded of great sushi. This place serves up the biggest rolls and fattest pieces of sashimi ever! It's so delicious and unbelievably good. It's a great atmosphere inside if you're in the front half of the restaurant. The back is away from all the sushi action and kind of a blah room. Definitely don't order 2 small beers though. A friend and myself both did and we were served 1 22 oz bottle to share...that's not even a pint a piece...I guess that's our own fault though! And ya, there's a wait...but it's good time to chat with your friends and relax.

    (4)

  • Rosenna T.

    Love love love Saburo's. This is my must eat in Oregon! Here's my tip for you: go 15mins before it opens, your wait time dramatically decreases by 45mins, if you can get in there as their first round of customers. My two must have items: Shrimp tempura: I normally don't like tempura, because they are oily and you feel like you are eating fried power. But Saburo's shrimp tempura had the freshest shrimp, the tempura was not oily and the crunchiness on the outside paired perfectly with the sweet shrimp. I almost want to say that it feels like they didn't use frozen shrimp for this deep fried dish. I should ask the owner about it next time I visit! The second must have item: Sea Urchin: I know, I know sea urchin has such a unique taste that its not for everyone. However, if you have had a super fresh one, you will fall in love with this expensive bite! I have had fresh sea urchin in a shell, opened right in front of me before, but the sea urchin that Saburo's offered was better and fresher than the ones that I have had. It doesn't have this fishy taste to it, instead it brings in this sweetness into every bite, and at Saburo's, it is definitely more than one bite!

    (5)

  • Aaron J.

    These rolls are huuuge! Order half as much as you normally order and you will still have left overs. There salmon skin salad is amazing and so are there gyoza (pretty sure they are tempura battered). Can't really go wrong with any of their rolls but like I said they are huuuge. It's nearly impossible to eat a piece in one bite and each piece of nigiri is about the size of a whole order at most sushi joints. Only reason it's not a five star is because the wait can be daunting...I've seen a sign that says it's a two hour wait. If there is a line and you want to get drunk before you eat you can always go to one of the cheap dive bars within a block and kill some time. Overall its one of the best bangs for your buck when it comes to sushi

    (4)

  • Melissa N.

    My oh my. The wait is long and now I know why. BIG FREAKIN' PORTIONS OF SUSHI. Reasonable prices for what you get. You will fill up so do not over order unless you plan to take some home. Salmon belllllyyyy wins my heart! They also have other great rolls such as the crunch rolls. They are enormous as well. 2 pieces of a roll and you will be 40% full. Seriously. Unagi, creamy scallop, Alaskan crunch, and philly are also delicious. Get there early if you can! Smaller parties are definitely more preferred. You will NOT be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Darren B.

    My friend in Portland who recommend I try here described it perfectly: "It's solid 7.5 sushi, huge rolls and fairly priced for what you get." He was spot on. It's not the best sushi ever, but it's good and their portions are not only generous but the largest I have ever seen. Some rolls are 3 times the thickness of the normal sized rolls you would get at other restaurants. I got the Mt. Hood and I'm normally not a fan of cream cheese in sushi (this one was recommended to me), but this one was really good. I also got the rainbow roll, which I do have to say was not worth it being one of the more expensive rolls. I would have been happier with a couple of nigri which are huge here too. This is the only sushi place I have ever been too where I routinely saw people leaving with doggie bags. One tip I must share is that the seaweed salad is a complete waste. It was the worst seaweed salad I've ever had and ultimately was pointless. Also, one person would be set with 1, maybe 1/2 rolls tops. Unless you can plow through loads of food, I would not recommend more than this unless you want left overs. Unless you have it later that night, sushi left overs are not the greatest. I would come again, but would order a bit differently. Service was decent too as was the atmosphere. It does get pretty packed.

    (3)

  • Rachael O.

    This is a very LATE review. I had heard about Saburo for a long time and my boyfriend and I finally decided to go. I was about to start dieting for a figure competition, so eating out for the next 3 months so this was the "last supper" Because we didn't plan well we got there late on a Sunday night and there were plenty of people waiting outside. Honestly we waited 2 hours which is a very long time. It got to the point where we were hungry but we had already started waiting so why stop now. Once we finally did get a table, I was very happy. To be honest I don't remember exactly what we ordered, I know we had urchin, sweet shrimp, quail eggs, etc. However, I know that it was fresh, the portions were great and for the amount of food we got the prices were awesome. Now this isn't Bamboo Sushi and all fancy and pPortland-esq, but it is good, and I love it. I enjoyed my meals so much that after my show next week I have already planned for a huge Sunday meal to help break the diet at Saburo. And now that I know about waiting we have planned to be back in town to get there by 4:30 to avoid long waits! Yummy!

    (4)

  • Adam A.

    What a letdown of a restaurant the service sucks and the food is flavorless I don't know what all the hype is about not worth the wait at all

    (1)

  • Pete L.

    As advertised. Long wait for monstrous pieces of fish. I found the huge pieces off-putting and unwieldy. This sushi is difficult to eat because of its extremely large size. Nigiri pieces are at least three bites, and twice as thickly cut as typical. For me, that makes for an less than pleasant eating experience, certainly one that I have never had at any sushi houses in Japan. Fish was fresh, so no quality complaints, you just need to be prepared for the experience and decide if portion size is your main criteria for choosing a sushi restaurant. If it is, saburo's will be a good restaurant choice for you. I don't feel the need to return.

    (2)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - The quality of the seafood here is A-OK (thus my rating of 3 stars). If you want the best quality, there are other places in Portland to visit. But for the price and quantity, Saburo's is actually not bad. I've been coming here for years. My friends and I come basically for one thing: To get our sushi craving satisfied while not being too hard on the wallet. I don't really like ordering the rolls because they're huge, and rice is a waste of stomach space. So when my friends order rolls, I basically just pick at the insides. As far as nigiri goes, that's what I'd suggest ordering. The pieces are huge. I've never been to a restaurant that has pieces so huge. And the prices are so low, too! When I eat nigiri here, I'll have maybe 1/4 of the rice underneath with all of the fish on top. The result is a plate full of uneaten rice, but your tummy will thank you. Arrive early to put your name down on the list, or come late to grab a table when the line isn't as long. But be prepared to wait. PS - If you really want to do take-out (which they do not allow), my friend has a trick: Come by yourself and sit at the bar (which usually doesn't take a long wait). Order a shit-load of stuff. Eat some of it, and then have them give you boxes for the rest of it. (=

    (3)

  • Minji L.

    The line is ridiculous... an hour for dinner. I was really expecting something amazing since we had to wait for so long. Well, I quickly realized that I can do without super-sized sushi that looks like it's on steroids... I also got food poisoning after eating their tuna, so that was really a no for me. I won't be coming back.

    (2)

  • Tet W.

    I came to Saburo's for a late night dinner. The wait was kinda long considering we came around 9pm and we waited about 40 to 45 minutes. Once we got in our order was promptly taken. We ordered the gyoza as an appetizer. These were a bit crunchy rather than crispy but it was good nonetheless. I also ordered the hamachi, Saba and ungainly nigiri sushi. These were pretty huge considering they should be bite size pieces. They were twice the size I typically see in most sushi restaurants. We also ordered 4 rolls: caterpillar, dragon, rainbow and sunset rolls. All the rolls were mega huge! Honestly I've never seen rolls this big. Not even at King of The Roll!! Anyway, they were all very well done but due to the size of the rolls, eating them was a real mess. This is a draw back since sushi typically should be clean and easy to eat. Anyway, if you are into portion size, there is no place better than Saburo's. The price absolutely cannot be beat. Honestly be ready to spend twice as much for a sushi dinner with almost twice as less food going to other establishments in Portland compared to Saburo's. This place is in high demand for sushi lovers so be prepared for a wait especially in the weekends. It is not unusual for people to wait over an hour to get in. The place is really small, so it cannot accommodate large crowds well. They do not take reservations so if you want to give this place a try without the hassle of the crowds, get there about 15 to 20 minutes prior to opening, otherwise you'll be waiting, All in all, our experience was very positive. The staff was very friendly and our food came out promptly even when it was crazy busy. I highly recommend giving this place a try if you love sushi or better yet a bargain! Go hungry or you'll kick yourself.

    (4)

  • Kai L.

    Love this place! Huge sushi, excellent quality!

    (5)

  • Sonia S.

    The sushi here is fantastic. It is so fresh, the pieces are extremely large, and plenty of variety. It is a great place to go if its nice outside, and you dont mind having to wait around a little bit for seating. Since there is always an intense line around the corner, the service is very efficient however you feel like you shouldnt dilly dally around... so it is a good place to eat if you are more concerned about the actual noshing. Love how they allow you to write your name on the list and then walk around so you dont just have to stand in line forever. If you want to be in the first wave of people though, plan on getting there at least a half hour before open, and make sure you are dressed to wait outside!

    (4)

  • Raul M.

    Super long wait for nothing

    (1)

  • Warren C.

    Sushi XL! Your eyes will always be larger than your stomach here. I've been going here for the last few years and this is one place that is always on my mind when I haven't filled my sushi craving and I need a big fix! As Lily J. mentions in her review the logical thing to do is to cut your order in half. Now here's the thing, I like having several selections to choose from. So in my experiences I always end up taking quite a bit home but at least I have a nice selection for my meal and also leftovers. I was just here last night and I order my usual orders of Eel, Salmon, Spicy tuna roll, Spider roll, Philly Roll, and the cucumber roll. Everything here is huge! The cuts of fish neatly and meticulously made and filled with quality and love. Between my friend and I, we end up having two small containers of to go items when we were completely full and ready to explode. If you're ever in the mood for sushi and the craving has got to be filled doubly, I would definitely recommend this place to you. I would love to give you guys 5 stars but the minimum hour wait each time I've been here makes it worth the meal but not worth the 5 stars I would like to give you. Happy Eating Everyone....

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Long waits on weekends but less of a wait on week nights. I go for the tamago sushi it's tastier than all the other places I tried. Service isn't that great the quality declines. Sushi on the other hand is same as conveyor belt sushi. Same quality but bigger size. Fish isn't the freshest but they make that up in size. Not worth waiting over an hour to get poor service, noisy restaurant and low quality giant sushi.

    (2)

  • Kirsten Q.

    I really wish you had put on your website you were closed for summer vacation. Very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Grace H.

    I think Saburo's is a tad bit overhyped. The sushi is pretty good, decent quality. The portions are humongous, which is wonderful. And the prices are lovable. But there is always a very long wait. Not quite sure it's worth it. Their customer service is also unreliable. If you want sheer quantity and have a good group of friends who will make waiting in line bearable, go for it. It can make for a fun time with friends but don't go in expecting the best sushi ever.

    (3)

  • Yu F.

    Yammme

    (5)

  • Terry C.

    Saburo's is one of those small places where people are willing to wait and wait to get a seat. This place is only open for probably 5 hours each day. The place is jammed packed from front to the back of the place. Great portions for what you paid for. This isn't your small sushi that you expect, this is big, I mean big. The service isn't bad but I do agree with another reviewer that they seem to want you in and out as fast as they can because when a table doesn't leave that money not being made. The atmosphere isn't much at all. Wood seats, and very loud. If your going expect a wait of about 2 hours during peak hours. So I probably would grab like a granola bar while you wait or offer money to exiting customers for their food they didn't finish. The worst part about this place is the table next to the door. I've sat there twice already during the cold season and it really sucks. Waiting customers will watch you make out to the sushi your ordered and asks "what is that?" Last time I was there, there was a couple arguing about why they were dressed miles apart. One was dressed in a clubbing outfit while the other looked like an indie rocker. "Bitch, you said to dress nice, this isn't nice? I thought I tried but your all dressed up like a skank. How am I suppose to compete with that?" With the cold air running through the bickering couple and nosy people, I would have like to wait 10 extra minutes for a better table. FYI, the parking lot exit area where you have to go down the steep hill, not worth parking there. Park in the streets. If you go down that hill you'll likely will lose your bumper and destroy the bottom of your car.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    Bottom line: The sushi was so mediocre that we decided not to finish it. Add to that the 45 minute wait and dull atmosphere/decor and I really wouldn't recommend this place (other than the fact that it's the only sushi restaurant in the immediate area). The other positive is that the portion sizes were quite large, but at the cost of quality. Full disclosure: I'm a bit of a sushi snob, but I also don't leave reviews on yelp unless I feel strongly about an experience.

    (2)

  • Trumary S.

    Often standing room only, this restaurant consistently slams home quality, diversity, and really beautiful food that is art as well as edible. Their sauces are special blends; for example the tempura dipping sauce was not straight Ponzu, it was a gingery blend made just for tempura. They have a separate sauce for dipping raw fish bites. You mark what you want on a menu with a marker and then they bring it to you. There are explanations for most foods and what isn't there, someone will happily explain to you. Owned and ran by true Sushi Masters, you will not be disappointed here. High quality, excellent service, beautiful food. Who could ask for anything more?

    (5)

  • Chelsea B.

    Best dang sushi place around! It's always a treat to go to Saburo's. The portions are insane! We love this place!

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    Saburo's has long been on my list of sushi to try in the area, and it's located only blocks away from where I live in Westmoreland. That said, I see lines at this place daily--it's a hoppin' joint with lines out the door so the food must be good right? My girlfriend and I got there about half an hour after they opened on a Wednesday and it was sort of disorganized in terms of whether or not you signed in somewhere or waited in line. A lot of others were confused, too, but there is a sign-up sheet right at the door where you can put your name and number of people in your party. Our wait wasn't too bad--it was about half an hour before we got a table and there are two sections of the restaurant. The first section looked super cramped and dark, but the section in the far back has huge windows that give a ton of natural lighting and light blue wallpaper that was actually really welcoming and more open. The way you order is they give you a washable marker that you mark up your menu with and then the server comes by to confirm your order and they are off! Our dishes were there actually fairly quickly--about a ten to fifteen minute wait time. We tried the fried soft-shell crab, which was diabolically delicious as an appetizer, but we founds out quickly that we had ordered far too much sushi by the time it hit our table. We were expecting regular Bamboo Sushi sized rolls, but what came were Bamboo's roided out cousins. The rolls are absolutely the largest sushi rolls I've ever seen, but what's great is that the freshness and the finesse of the product is not squashed by this fact. We got a ton of different types from their Veggie Budokhan roll (avocado and cucumber with charred broccoli and other veggies) to a fresh crab sashimi, which was dazzling, and I have to tell you if you get the smoked salmon nigiri you will literally have the largest cut of salmon you've ever seen on rice. Again, size is everything, sure, and their avocado rolls are pretty ridiculously huge, but they don't sabotage flavor or offer a cheap dining experience. The atmosphere is lively, the food was amazing, and you're almost encouraged to take food home--we had leftovers that's for sure. I wouldn't say I would trade in my love of Bamboo for Saburo's, but it's definitely in my top 3 sushi spots in Portland--one you have got to check out if you're a fan of this cuisine.

    (4)

  • Yan H.

    Holy crap the sushi is huge! Forget sensible portions, and throwaway traditional nigiri-zushi sizes... I am completely for eating a giant tasty piece of fish. It's delicious, it's flavorful, and it's my new facebook banner. Also I enjoy a good broiled fish collar, and the hamachi collar here is done right. Yes the purist in me has some issues, but forget him... delicious is delicious. It's not like this place is arranged like some high-end omakase place, nor are we charged a bill reflecting that. Appreciate what you have Portland, I sadly must return to a city of more modest fish... bleh.

    (5)

  • Kimmy C.

    i have been deprived of Saburo's for 3 months. No one should ever be deprived of Saburo's for that long. That's how much I long for Saburos...

    (5)

  • Paul V.

    Do I even have to write a review for this place?? There's a reason why there's a line.. and its not the lack of supply, its the demand!! Don't be scared to step out of your relm of the rolls. Try the deep fried octopus, the salmon collar, and the salads!! This is still my GO TO sushi joint!!

    (5)

  • Leah K.

    Saburo's only has hype due to large portions and thats about it. Their motto is obviously QUANTITY over QUALITY. Sushi is an art. It's about the simplicity, quality and freshness. Being able to take a roll in one bite is crucial in japanese-sushi eating etiquette. The portions here are ridiculously large, too large. Instead of one bite, it is more like 3 bites and yes of course, everything falls apart. There is nothing I hate more than that. For those of you who love Saburo's I understand... you may feel like you're getting more due to the large portion but remember that you are also paying more. Double the size, double the price. I can't eat sushi without ginger like I can't eat Korean food without kimchee. We asked the waitress for extra ginger and got charged for it (first time being charged for extra ginger at a sushi restaurant). Her response in questioning the charge was that Saburo's has once again raised prices. One thing I did like is the Hawaiian roll, thought it was unique using a thin slice of cucumber instead of the regular nori. And no charge for green tea, surprising. Overall, a disappointment. It doesn't matter what kind of food it is, large portions can ruin any dish. Overkill. This is one of those places that have HYPE, but don't live up to it. I've been here twice now and will not be returning. I would rather spend my money else where. PS. This place only opens for dinner at 5pm. Expect long lines.

    (2)

  • Daniel S.

    What you can expect: 1. To wait 2. Moderately inattentive service 3. Noisy atmosphere 4. GIANT GODDAMN PIECES OF FISH Go here if you don't mind a wait, want to spend as much as you do at a fancy sushi restaurant but want to leave completely stuffed with leftovers that will make you stuffed again later. Looking for Traditional sushi, go elsewhere. Looking for a ton of food for the price, go here.

    (4)

  • JD K.

    No, not the best sushi I've ever had. Chefs were Hispanic (not hatin, just sayin) so it's not authentic. Yes, it's cheap and portion sizes are the biggest, but that don't make it good sushi. I say it's alright as in above average than your Blu Sushi or Sushiland. Service was very nice and accommodating. Get there early for parking or you'll be on the wait list.

    (1)

  • Kristina K.

    This is me not praising my new favorite sushi joint. The wait is long enough. I don't need more Portlanders to compete with. To come to Saburo's not starving for sushi wouldn't make sense. The portions are ginormous. If you like eel, get the eel, you will not be disappointed. Be careful because you can easily order too much here. The service is very prompt. Ready, set, eat and go. If you're looking for a little romance, this is not the place.

    (4)

  • Alyssa C.

    The definition of 3 stars is "A-OK" - and that's what I'm going to stick with. It's not bad, it's not great. I personally don't see the hype (You want to wait 1.5 hours to eat mediocre sushi...why?) The other thing is the rolls are ENORMOUS, which I guess is exciting to some people but frustrating to me because how the heck are you supposed to eat an enormous roll like that? Taking bites of sushi just doesn't work. Granted, I think this place is a great value and you get a lot for not spending a ton. Oh, and they like to keep business moving here, so don't go and expect to hang around and chat - once you're done, they want to get you out so the next people waiting can go!

    (3)

  • M K.

    Let me start with the bad and get it out of the way: There is often a wait. On certain days, especially weekends, I believe, they won't let you order to go. It's sort of small and the decor / environment could use some updating. The service can suffer a little, especially if they are too busy. Now on to the positive: As you've probably read already in the other reviews, they offer up large portions. Everything is big. Rolls, sashimi, nigiri etc. They don't hold back on giving you your money's worth. I've eaten here about 6 or 7 times now and maybe once or twice, one of the types of fish that I ordered wasn't 'really good'. I've always left full. You'll notice that many people leave with food. Either they order to go or they can't finish what they've ordered. I will often order a roll to go and eat it the next day for lunch. If you're an ambiance snob with money to burn, then maybe Saburo's isn't for you! However, if you just want to get your sushi on, and you don't want to break the bank, Saburo's is a win. I definitely recommend this place, but there is also room for improvement.

    (4)

  • Jovan D.

    Love this place! Huge portions for a sushi restaurant. The trick is to be patient and come early. It's a fairly small restaurant and there WILL be a line.

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    LOVE this place! I'm a Seattleite but if ever I'm in Portland, I'm headed to Saburo's by 430pm and making sure I'm one of the first ones in to get my fist-sized portions of albacore and everything else from the depths of the sea! I can't say much about service because once I get my food, I'm zoned out. I do occasionally look up to refill my diet Coke, but aside from that, I'm in a food coma waiting for my bill.

    (5)

  • Sara C.

    Tiny squishy restaurant, with the HUGEST SUSHI ON EARTH. I Loved it here! We ended up waiting in line for 45min but had arrived a little earlier than we would eat dinner anyway, so we weren't too grumpy about it. I was a little weirded out to see so many people walk out with to-go boxes filled to the top, but after eating here I get why. The servings are so HUGE and totally worth it's price that it makes no sense not to order your dinner for that night and maybe tomorrow night too. And maybe for a friend or two. The environment is really mediocre- too crowded and just decently put together. But gosh, the serving sizes and service made up for everything. We ordered a roll with NO tuna but ended up getting an alternative form of the regular red tuna (white tuna vs red tuna? I don't know). We said no problem and just picked it off but got a free sashimi of salmon as token of apology. And again- HUGE SERVING, so that one freebie was like getting 3 regular sized ones. How awesome is that :) The udon was spicy (next time we'll ask for no pepper) but was fabulously decorated with veges. Rolls had too much rice, but who cares when the slices of fish are made for a giant's mouth anyway. I also love that you can print out their menu on their website and order as soon as you get seated. The only really negative thing we experienced was that at the end of our meal we asked for the check and they immediately cleaned off the next table and scooted it RIGHT NEXT TO OUR TABLE. Which meant the next party sat RIGHT NEXT TO US, as if we were 1 giant party. Just a really terrible idea and not sure why they thought that would be ok, because it wasn't. But since everything else worked out, I think I can forgive them this time... I'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Stephanie D.

    worst food i've ever had. Everything about it was just wrong and gross. the seared fish tasted like a dirty pan, the fish was not fresh at all, the miso soup came out of a machine, the wasabi was all watered down and soupy. gross. If I could give this place 0 stars I would.

    (1)

  • Joseph K.

    If you're ever in oregon, hit this place up for a pretty cool experience. Portion sizes are ridiculous. I had unagi that literally was the length of my whole hand from my fingers to my wrist. The quality of the fish and even the cutting isn't the most out of this world, but it'll do. (Who really knows what fresh, or quality fish means anyway ...most of us have been conditioned to think one way and our perception of freshness and quality when it comes to sushi is skewed anyway.) This place is more for those who have time to wait in a line and want to get full off of rice and sushi. The non-sushi items such as the katsu, etc are equally good. While I will most likely not crave the sushi itself for the most amazing flavor, whenever I want to get mad full or want that fun dining experience, i'll think of Saburos and gladly go again.

    (4)

  • Sean K.

    Saburo's... It's been almost two years since I moved up to Portland and I can't believe this was the first time I have been to Saburo's before... I just want to say money to amt of food and quality of food is quite high here. I know, I know, quality of food isn't as high as the other ones I have been to but it's up there. Portion is great and fish is fresh. Just make sure you don't order too much food there.. otherwise you will leave with whole lot of delicious leftover but that isn't so bad either.

    (4)

  • Praisye S.

    LOVE This place! An hour and half of waiting is totally worth it! The big O roll is my favorite!

    (5)

  • Eddie W.

    Waiter: Hi, welcome to Saburo's can I take your order? Us: Can we get 4 orders of unagi, 3 orders of salmon, 2 Spicy Tuna Salads, 2 California rolls, side order of mixed tempura and some gyoza. Waiter: Would you like to try our House Special Roll? Us: Maybe later Waiter: Sorry, you can only order ONCE Us: Oh.........ok? Yes, if it seems like I'm trying to make Saburo's sound like a fast food joint such as McDonald's then you are correct. While there are considerable similarities there are salient differences. Similarities: Both offer super size options, affordable prices, quantity over quality philosophy, more than necessary daily caloric intake, mayonnaise over usages, cramp seating, nonexistent servers Differences: Super size is only option at Saburo's, McDonald's has no limit on orders As a sushi joint Saburo's deserves 1 star (if that) but as a McDonald's of sushi 2 star (laughable at best)

    (2)

  • Hayden N.

    Large, great quality sushi at ridiculously affordable prices. My favorite sushi restaurant in Portland! The only negative is that it's small and the wait could be up to an hour and a half on a busy day. I recommend going when it first open, on rainy weekdays, or with a friend that has connections :) Heads up, the sushi is HUGE--people have the tendency to over order!

    (4)

  • Quency H.

    Great sushi at a good price. Get there early or wait for an hour + to get in.

    (5)

  • Kaj B.

    Saburo's is a local institution and going there is always the work of an evening. Saburo's operates like many frustrating restaurants in this town that refuse to expand their capacity to meet demand: you have to get there before they open or you won't get in for hours. The sushi itself is middling in quality but the price is good and the portions are enormous. They have a couple standard Japanese pub dishes like curry and udon for the non sushi eaters but it is mainly a sushi place. Go with your friends, it would be boring alone.

    (3)

  • Doug P.

    Unfortunately Saburo's was disappointing, very disappointing. I can imagine when international friends visit and they are taken to Saburo's they have a true understanding of why americans are so FAT! Enormous portions! The portion sizes are embarassingly huge, and I mean huge. A piece of nigiri is, at least 2-3x bigger than it should be. It makes for a very uncomfortable experience trying to choke down. Additionally you must place only one order- can't order more once you already placed your initial order. They emphasize this point in order for you to make sure you stock up and carry away enough food for a small family. In this case quantity doesn't not equal quality. Any self respecting sushi lover would never show their face here.

    (2)

  • michael k.

    Cheap Sushi...... Two words that shouldn't be said together. Big Sushi, another two..... Sushi is finger food, and a piece should take one, maybe two bites to finish. I watched the lady at the next table cut her roll pieces with a fork and knife, like it was a steak. Plus this place is dirty and needs a good cleaning. The wait station had garbage all over the floor, which you have to walk thru to get to the back dinning room. As we were leaving i looked in the display case. I noticed 7 different types of fish/seafood all piled on top of each other. Not very sanitary. Check my photo. I like danger, but I'm not stupid.

    (2)

  • Heidi K.

    I have eaten sushi literally all over the world, and I love this place. My boyfriend and I eat here about once a week. Yes, we wait 20-30 minutes EVERY time. The space is tiny, deal with it, ya whiners. There's a wine bar literally next door, where you can wait patiently. The portions are absolutely enormous, and the fish is tender and very tasty. We usually order sake, miso, edamame, seaweed salad, sunomono, and various sashimi and nigiri. We have rolls from time to time, but the massive slices of fresh fish are our favorite. Service is eh, but this is a cheap, tasty sushi place in Portland - fits the scenery. Please don't start going here. The wait is already long enough. Okay, that was selfish.

    (5)

  • Jeremy J.

    Love this place. It's best to get there 15 minutes before they open so you can get seated right away. Sushi is very large (not really your traditional one bite sushi) so even though it is a little on the pricy side you get what you pay for. Also, I find the tables are a little cramped and ordering is a bit weird. Also, last time they forgot my sashimi order. I absolutely love the seared tuna nigiri. It's basically all I need in life to be happy. Everything here is good though, so just go.

    (4)

  • Peter F.

    Saburo's is amazing, there is absolutely no denying that. It is in my top 3 sushi places I have ever been to. The only reason I took off one star is because the seating is ridiculous. You MUST plan for an hour to an hour and a half wait every single time you go there. It could be could be pouring down rain with a tornado on the way and it still seems like Black Friday. The worst part of it is there are people who will slyly try to cut and act all naive about it. Or, one friend will be there waiting for a bit and then five of their friends just hop in line right in front of you right before they open. This irritates me because you literally have to be on point (sometimes confront people) if you simply want to get through the door. Once the do open, they do have a list you can get on, but you better have some time to kill. I've found that getting on the list and then going for a coffee or a drink and then coming back works really well. However, do not take too long or you will miss your opportunity. They seem to know they need to expand and that it makes everyone angry, but they also seem content just where they are. I will change my review to 5 stars if they ever get a bigger building, or at least make it so you can order things to go. Now on to the good... Their portions are fresh, and huge! I have seen people write negative things about their staff, but they have always been extremely friendly to me and very fast once you order. The waiting may take an hour and a half, but most often you will be out of there in a half hour to forty five minutes. This place is also great for a vegetarian as their veggie rolls are gigantic and delicious as well. Probably the best veggie rolls I have ever had. Their spicy tuna rolls are one of my favorites and their salmon has always been top notch when I've been there. You can also get real crab in your rolls for a very affordable price. Whatever you order will probably be delicious but start with only a couple of rolls and be prepared to go into battle.

    (4)

  • John B.

    I went there today after hearing lots of hype about the place. The fish was fresh but that is about all I can say for this place. Everyone loves the huge rolls, which indeed they are. I believe it is lost on most people that sushi is suppose to be single bite size pieces, not some monstrosity you have to take three bites to eat. The proportions and size were off which is why I am giving it such a low score. the wait wasn't horrible considering how busy they were and the staff performed their basic function but nothing more. I would say this place is the McDonalds of sushi with better fish quality.

    (2)

  • Albert W.

    I am a regular sushi eater and this is my observation. The fish is huge but the rice is too big and rice does not taste as good. The plates are dirty with stain. This place is very dirty. The server is ridiculous slow and rude. i witnessed a waitress yelling a customer. I was referring to an asian lady with glasses. There is a minimum 15 percents tips whether you like it or not. Overall spent 150 bucks for 2 person. I will not go to saburo sushi again because of the service.

    (1)

  • Claire H.

    The food was fine, but the service was terrible, awful! It's pretty much NO SERVICE at all. They take your order and deliver your meal to your table, that's all. If you love the food so much that you have to go eat at this place. Make sure you read your bill carefully because they already add at least 15% of tips to your bill. DON"T DOUBLE TIP unless you think you deserved to be treated like sh-IT for the amount of tips you pay. I personally would not go back at all. Portland have so many good restaurant that have great food and services waiting for me to visit.

    (1)

  • Trin N.

    Wait time can be long but once seated...its worth it. Sashimi, Hawaiian roll and Hamachi collar is a must. Its not just about their large quantity...its quality too. Seafood is fresh. You're lucky if you get Alfredo as your server...entertaining.

    (4)

  • Anthony K.

    value = good price = good wait = horrible quality = average at best attitude of employees = horrible layout of restaurant = cramped menu options = good parkign = small lot and street if you want a piece of sushi made the way it is intended to be made then avoid this place. if you want safeway deli quality sushi or merri-go-round quality stuff then go here and stuff your face. safeway you wont have to wait 2 hours though. No really, if you are new at the sushi thing you will think this place is amazing until you actually venture out and try new places. most people will leave here with left overs because of how enormous the portions are which isnt necessarily a bad thing. However, the old saying 'you get what you pay for" definitely applies with all things including raw fish. thank you and IM OUT!

    (2)

  • Meredith P.

    I'm being a bit generous with this rating. I think the virtues of Saburos are already duly noted. For me, those virtues are better described as vices. Yes, the sushi is huge. The quality of the cuts of fish are not particularly impressive. For example, I had the seared salmon nigiri last night and it had this odd brown fatty portion that, at any other thoughtful sushi restaurant, would have been butchered off the fish and left in a scrap bucket. I also felt that because this place is always so incredibly slammed you are ushered to your table and served brusquely as if your mouth is a sushi conveyor belt and the folks serving you just want to shove a bunch of food down your throat so that they can turn another table. All that said, if you have an extremely huge sushi appetite, this is going to be a pretty good value if what you care about is quantity over quality. Will I be back? Maybe, so long as I don't have to wait (which I definitely would not do for this place).

    (3)

  • Josh B.

    GIANT cuts of nigiri (which is all I ordered) and really cheap prices for sushi, even for normal sized portions. All of the fish tasted fresh to me and I tried at least 5 differrent kinds. Service wasnt amazing but I only really care about value and freshness of fish. This is my favorite sushi spot in oregon so far. Only problem is the wait is probably going to be really long and they don't take reservations, but its totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Jan W.

    The sushi at Saburo's never disappoint me! My little cousin who refused to eat raw fish tried Saburo's salmon belly and she was converted to a salmon sushi addict! Most people order the salmon belly but hidden gems of this place are the unagi and the hamachi!

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    Saburo's is a very good sushi place for your $$$$. The quality of the sushi is not the best, but it's not bad either. The hamachi and salmon collars are my favorites... they were simply grilled or broiled... could use a little bit of seasoning or sauce.

    (3)

  • King F.

    Need to work on their service. Absolutely horrible. Rushed us off and wouldn't give us any service once the food came. Couldn't even ask for a cup or tea or water. Once we finally got the rude waitress's attention she coldly stated" I'm only going to give you a little bit (of tea). Lots of people waiting." Dude. Have you heard of service lady? We've been here asking for an ounce of service and a refill since the food came and not once have you came except to put down and get the check. You may have sushi that is somewhat better than other places around here but the service is most definitely the worst. Ruined the whole dinner for me and is definitely not worth the price or waiting time to eat here. Thumbs down.

    (1)

  • Erin C.

    Is bigger really better? If you want to eat a bite of rice, a bite of cucumber and then a bite of fish all seperately.. then you'll like saburo's rolls. The size doesn't really allow you to taste the wonderful combination of the maki ingredients in my opinion. nigiri on the other hand however is pretty ok. It may seem large portion and cheap for the price but somehow i always ended up paying the same amount if i were to eat anywhere else... why is that?!

    (3)

  • Louis J.

    Don't believe the hype !!! This place is nothing special . Its quantity over quality . Huge junks of below sushi grade quality fish . Cramped and dirty . Bad service . Only reason I came in to saburos is iv seen people waiting in line for years and had to see what was so special . It was a let down

    (2)

  • Nai S.

    I love places that have a unique taste to them. Saburo has it's own flavor when it comes to sushi. The portions are huge and yet delicious. The only reason why I can't give it a 5 is because I don't feel there is anything super special about it. Besides just making really good sushi nothing stands out to me. The only bad thing about this place is the wait. For some it's not worth it but I would say it is. Unlike a lot of sushi places that all taste the same Saburo has a unique flavor to it's sushi. I would recommend getting the California Rolls with real crab which is only $5. Ridiculously cheap for real crab.

    (4)

  • Heidi S.

    Saburo's is such a great lil sushi place! If you can't handle a wait and a small dine-in, then don't bother going... it's busy and cozy. The sushi is super tasty and portion size is HUGE! I am not a fan of their bento, as I didn't find it to be all that noteworthy. The sushi is where it's at. If you want sushi at a great price and something to fill your belly, then I recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Have you heard the saying " The more I hang out with you, the less I like you." That sums up my relationship with Saburo. First time Five stars WOW huge sushi This is awesome! Budokhan Roll And Spicy Tuna Salad are two of my favorite dishes here. Next few times Four Stars OK long line, long wait, but still huge sushi. Sweet! Last few times to present. Three Stars long line, long wait, this sushi is huge but the I have noticed that the fish quality has been going down over the past few years. Maybe its just me. I wish there was a better microbrew beer selection. Sorry Widmer doesn't cut it, at least for me. I do like the atmosphere when it is busy. The chaos is soothing. But, when I start to question the quality of food, especially raw fish. Then I start to question what other places should I go try instead. I tell people to check out Saburo if they have never eaten here. It's still a good experience. It's hard to "time" the wait list but there are a few good bars within walking distance, especially the wine bar next door.

    (3)

  • Megan S.

    I was super excited to try out this sushi place, and the anticipation grew as my friends and I waited for over an hour to be seated. The atmosphere was bustling and tidy, but average. The service was friendly, and the sushi rolls were massive and really fresh. It was delicious. Was it worth the wait? Did it live up to the hype and expectation? Not really. I prefer being able to pick up my sushi with chopsticks and pop them into my mouth in one bite. Despite the deliciousness and freshness, these were far too large to eat without taking several bites and destroying the entire roll in the process. I live a few blocks away, but if I had to choose between driving to a more expensive place, with smaller portions, I would. I'm giving it three stars because I really did find the service great, and the food tasty, but I probably wouldn't torture myself by waiting that long ever again.

    (3)

  • Jaslyn C.

    Saburo's used to be the best sushi in town. Now, it is made sloppily, without soul or love. The rolls were thrown together, and soggy. Sushi should never be soggy. The mussels were... foul. And the shells had been dyed lime green, which brought me face to face with what I never wanted to admit about Saburos: Their fish is not sustainably sourced. Used to be delicious, now it is terrible. Go somewhere that loves food.

    (1)

  • Janet R.

    Oh. My. God. This was the greatest sushi place I had been to..the pieces of fish were as big as my chopstick, it was all super fresh, the rolls give you like 8 GIGANTIC pieces, that I couldn't even finish, they gyoza had just enough crunchy cabbage in it to keep me happy, and a cool part about ordering is that you just check it off the menu in dry-erase marker, and just hand it to the waiter. We had to wait about 40 minutes for our table, but it was definately worth it. I will most definately come back next time I am in Portland.

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Been coming to Saburos for almost 20 years now, since I was 14 years old. Amazing food. I find myself using Saburos as the measuring stick for good sushi restaurants. Unfortunately, have yet to find one that measures up. Just check out those pictures of their food! My personal favs: Toro, salmon belly, sabu roll, spicy tuna salad. All awesome! Yeah theres usually a long wait, but its worth it.

    (5)

  • Noah K.

    I'm sorry I have to do this to Saburo's because I know they have great sushi, but as of now I've been there 4 times, and I've only managed to eat there once, and my most recent visit will be the last. I read another review on here from someone who said it perfect, she said that Saburo's knows their food is good, but they refuse to expand their operation to meet the customer's need for it. I don't mind waiting for a while to eat good food, but it doesn't give them any excuse to allow their service to be WAY below par, they act like just because they have some of the better sushi in PDX they can treat you like crap because of it, its called the service industry for a reason! I don't do reviews like this (by this I mean giving them 1 star for something other than food) but my latest experience is worthy of a zero star rating. So my wife is NOT a sushi fan, its pretty rare that I get to eat sushi so when I do I want to make it count! One night about 3 weeks ago my wife said "Hey let's get sushi tonight, I will try whatever you get because I know how much you like it!" ... Music to my ears! ;-) So I started looking online at places in my neighborhood because I wasn't sure that I wanted to venture over to SE, there is a place called Maki in my neighborhood that has good reviews but I thought well I know that Saburo's has good sushi and maybe the wifey will like them more -- And I knew full well that they would be busy and there would be a wait, I thought well then I will just get an order to go. I looked them up online, found their website and called, it went straight to voicemail and on the voicemail it said they don't take to-go orders over the phone but they do in person. So I thought no worries, I will go down there and get a to go order in person. Once I got there, there was about 3 or 4 couples/groups waiting outside for a table, which obviously is very common there. I walked inside and stood by the entrance for a few minutes and finally I had to stop the guy and ask him if I could get a to go order, but he didn't even acknowledge me after passing me 3 or 4 times. Finally I got his attention and asked him if I could get a to-go order and he looks around and goes "no, I'm not doing any to go orders" and just walks off. No remorse whatsoever, more crap customer service just like when you eat there and they want you to get in and out as quick as possible and dont care if they make you uncomfortable by letting you know they want you to hurry up. The bottom line here is - service like that is unacceptable. If had he looked around and said "hey man I'm sorry but there's some people that have been waiting here for quite a while and unless you want to wait for them to get seated I'm just can't do it now" -- I would have still been not happy, but at least would've understood where he is coming from, but the way he said it was just the most unbelievable crap ever, and especially since they don't say anything about it over the phone, they don't even answer the phone! Its a joke, screw you Saburo's! Get over yourself, almost of all of the bad reviews on Yelp are related to your awful customer service.

    (1)

  • douglas h.

    Dinner / Sushi One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Seattle

    (5)

  • Esh H.

    We waited about 30 minutes after signing up for a party of 3. For the number of people waiting outside, I was disappointed. The tempura udon was good, with great noodles and broth. The sashimi was fine but nothing spectacular (we got the Chef's choice). The assorted sushi and rolls we got were too big! I suppose maybe that's what people like, to be filled up for their money to the point their taste bids are buried under the senseless mountain of rice under the thick slab of fish...but I wouldn't recommend eating sushi this way. Go if you're hungry and want the amount of food for your buck. If you're looking for good, quality sushi, this is not the place. Furthermore, the wait time to receive our menus and then again for our orders to be taken were too long. It seemed understaffed. Our waiter hardly said anything to us and hurried us through to take our menus away. I am baffled as to why this place is so frequented by many. The only explanation I can come up with is that people who like to say they eat sushi but don't have the palate or the sense to discern good sushi from mountains of raw fish go here for a cheap but plentiful experience of the exotic.

    (2)

  • Alex P.

    Cool place. We arrived about an hour early to get in line and we definitely needed to. They offer giant, fresh sushi for a really economic price without a drop in quality or variety. When you eat here, you WILL have leftovers for at least another meal. The meal was really great, but we were shocked when the bill came with 15% gratuity included, especially when we had to write out our order and only saw any service when are orders were "taken" and when our bill was brought out.

    (4)

  • Jonie N.

    Best super, sized sushi ever. Yes, the wait can be quite ridiculous (almost 1.5 hours for a table for 4 the last time I went) and they don't take numbers to call you when a table's almost ready, so you just kind of have to check in every so often to see where you are on the list or you'll lose your place in line. Anyway, by the time you get your sushi, you almost forget how long you waited because it's so worth it. There's seriously nowhere else I've been that compares to the nigiri from this place. The pieces of fish are HUGE and they are super fresh and delicious. My favorites are the salmon belly and seared salmon.. drool just thinking about it :) The crab is real meat too, no imitation! As for the rolls, they're good, but if you like your fish, the nigiri is so amazing you'd definitely rather get full off of that. Aside from sushi, I've had the shrimp tempura and it was really good too - lightly battered and tender shrimp. Lastly, prices are great. Every time I come, it usually ends up being around $20 per person (inc. tax + tip) and you leave completely full and satisfied. For sushi, that's a great deal. Saburo's is a must every time I'm in Portland. NOTE: Service is good, but they can be a bit rush rush, and try to get you out as soon as you're done eating. There's always still a crowd waiting outside the restaurant, so it's completely okay and understandable.

    (5)

  • Siera R.

    If I'm in the mood to wait in line, I'll head over here. I love scallops they are mixed with a sesame oil for the nigiri

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    This is literally the best sushi place I've ever been to. And I worked at an upscale sushi restaurant. This is why: -The pieces of fish you get in both the rolls and the ngiri/sashimi are huge and fresh. -the rolls are really well rolled (this only really matters when sushi is rolled poorly and the whole thing falls apart..doesn't happen here) -The service is ridiculously fast. -totally reasonable prices, when considering the quality Only con? -They push you out! Lines are so long for this place, they dont let you relax. I've been asked to leave on more than one occasion because they literally need that table. To me, that just means that this place is THAT good. There is usually a wait, but the bar across the street, Kay's, is a great place to wait until then. :)

    (5)

  • Vic B.

    The fattest nigiri's I've been too. They are not stingy at all! Their warn Sake is bomb and there specialty sushi are really good and of course not stingy at all!

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    I want to come back here for 1 reason, and 1 reason only: Salmon belly. Now I've gone and ruined the secret. I have never had a cut of fish like this anywhere else. It was almost as if I was eating a piece of butter. So amazingly delicious. The rest of the rolls were ok, and I agree that overall there is too much rice in things. It makes the sushi huge, which means I have to tear things apart and remove the rice. I still think Bamboo is my favorite sushi in Portland, but man am I still dreaming about that salmon belly.

    (4)

  • Jenine G.

    Sushi is great BUT after we waited 2.5 hours for a party of 3, we were then told our food would take 45min to come out AND that they would be closing soon so could not place any additional orders. Will not be coming back here.

    (1)

  • Scott H.

    I don't care what you say, but it's my favorite. New york or Chicago Pizza, Pats or Geno's, Creamy or Chunky. There are some issues that have two definitely sides of the fence and loving Saburos is one of them. I do not think less of people who hate Saburos, I know there are people that do, and they are entitled to their opinion. I'll tell you what they have and you can decide for yourself. There are definitely enough people that love it that there is always a line an hour long to get in...if you're lucky. I remember when I was younger they hadn't added in the back section yet and there were only about 6 tables and the bar. Saburos knows that they have a desirable unique product and they act as such. The rolls are huge and price as well, if not better than your local sushi joint. Don't come here on a first date, you are not going to look attractive shoving these rolls in your face hole. But for an average eater 2 rolls is plenty. Lots of very different ingredients and flavors, instead of a bunch that revolve around imitation crab. They have let up on their rules a bit. It used to be that you couldn't order more than once, so you usually had to order a bunch and they err on the side of taking leftovers home. They won't split up orders. There is no to go on weekends. They only split checks one way. Your whole party must be present. But like I said, they have let up a bit on their rules. I like the rice. It's not too vinegary, but it definitely has some flavor. The size of the rolls though just defy all of the laws of packing density and physics. It is really something to behold. The sashimi is huge too. The pieces of Unagi are the size of a dollar bill. However, for some people, less is more. They have other dishes that are reasonably priced like their udon and raw tuna salad (Salad with Tuna, not a tuna salad) Service is always a little pokey and not super warm, but this isn't a Hooters, you didn't come for the service. So give them a try and decide for yourself if you love it or hate it. I won't judge you if you hate it, more sushi for me. Make sure you go on a weekday when it isn't raining or bring an umbrella, a lot of patience and a big appetite.

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    I've been coming to Saburo's with my family for years but this is the first time I've ever received the terrible customer service described in many different Yelp reviews for this restaurant. While writing down and double checking what we wanted to order on the menu (because you can only order once), our waitress came by and asked us three different times if we were ready to order. Don't you think that by the second time she asked us and we said we weren't ready, that she would just hang back and then wait until we put our pen down and call her over to order? Simple logic failed this waitress. Anyway, our waitress (woman with glasses) decided that she wouldn't be treating us like human beings tonight, instead she would toss our appetizers on the table and walk away to serve others. Yeah, I get it - the restaurant is busy but that is no excuse to treat us like dogs. Food was decent, fresh fish, etc. We received our check and noticed there was a 15% gratuity automatically charged. Our waitress had a serious attitude and definitely did not deserve 15%, which came out to be about $18 on our check for a table of four. She also took away our tea pot at the end of our meal when we were still drinking it... You're kidding, right? Super aggressive and pushy. In the end, big egos, long lines, and not worth it.

    (1)

  • Sophie L.

    I haven't been back since they treated my mother and I like we're criminals. We came early on a weekend before it opens, because that's pretty much how you can get a seat right away. When we all went in, the waiter showed everyone to their back seat. My mother and I sat at the 2 person table after he finished seating the back room. Then minutes later, he asked why we're sitting there because the couple behind us suppose to have that table. I told him that's where we thought we're suppose to be sitting. Turns out, because there was another group of Asian in front of us, he assumed we're from the same party, and seated them at the big table. He proceeds to tell us that the seat was meant for someone else, and blamed us for stealing their table even though they were behind us. First of all, its not our fault that he assumed all Asian are in the same group. He didn't ask for number of parties, and decidedly blamed us for his prejudice nature. Cheap sushi is not worth this kind of prejudice treatment. They need to train their staff its not okay to assumed all race are part of a group.

    (1)

  • Chris C.

    Very good sushi and gigantic portions. Only downside of this place is the long line to get in and it is pretty small inside. I was with a great group so we really enjoyed our meal!

    (4)

  • Gaye F.

    There are no words to describe the quality and particularly the quantity of the food there. It makes all other sushi places unacceptable to me. Yes, the wait is usually outrageous and hate not being able to order more than once but they have their rules and I am willing to abide by them just for the experience of being there.... Yum Yum Yum

    (5)

  • B.Marie G.

    I didn't get the see the lady with the glasses!! from reading the reviews, I wanted a picture.. But other than that, everyone was really nice, I didn't feel rushed at all, and the food was sooo fresh.. The sashimi tuna was super fresh.. I am so picky on sushi, and this is the best Ive had. The prices are very fair. best to go on an off time with no wait, but it is worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Jacob M.

    I just thought it was ok, which was surprising always seeing the line outside of people waiting. The sushi was decent and I will say the rolls are large, which I appreciate, but it's just kinda average inside for decor, divided up oddly with the front and back too. I wouldn't say it's bad, just wouldn't wait outside in the cold for it.

    (3)

  • Libby C.

    The sushi is giant. Seriously. It's bigger than my palm. But damn, is it delicious. My biggest fault with this place is the line (the wait?). The line starts forming outside 45 minutes to an hour before the restaurant opens. I'm not joking. I seriously love this place. I love the giant sushi, and the fact that I can order more sushi than I can eat for under $20 and have a few extra pieces for a midnight snack.

    (5)

  • Eggland B.

    The good things about Saburo's are that their rolls are giant, economically priced, and pretty tasty. I think over the years that the quality has gone down a little, although I disagree with some other reviewers who say the quality is "bad" but I agree it's not premium. Lately I've been annoyed at two practices that I think are really not very considerate of the consumer: 1) They are now often telling people that they are only allowed to order once. One of the fun things about sushi is that you can order a little, eat, then order some more if you like. I understand that their kitchen is busy, but other restaurants make it work so I don't see why it's such a problem for Saburo's. 2) On at least two occasions recently they've had a sign on their door saying that their credit card machine isn't working and that they're taking cash only. Then inside I saw people paying with a credit card. The second occasion that this happened I thought that it was a little suspicious that they're having so many problems with their credit card machine. So, I decided to try paying with a credit card and they took it. I suspect (but can't prove of course) that they may simply be lying to their customers, saying that their credit card machine is down so that people will pay cash. I don't think it's okay to lie to customers. Either tell people that you have decided not to accepting credit cards, or accept them happily. But don't lie about it. EDIT: I see that someone else has also commented about "lies about machines being down (cash only) to avoid transaction fees" so I take that as confirmation that this is a lie that they're telling customers.

    (2)

  • Chris W.

    No. Just, no. The summary: waited an hour for mediocre tasting, over-priced sushi and put up with their rude service. Me and three others showed up shortly after opening and waited about an hour for our table--no big deal, since we knew from other helpful reviews here on Yelp that the wait was long, and so we expected it. Finally got seated in their cramped little corner table, and placed our orders. Food came fairly quickly, and the sushi portions were big--so far, so good (or at least, not bad). However, their salmon and sashimi was chewy (if you know good sushi, you know it isn't supposed to be like that), and the price was a little higher than I've had at better quality restaurants. Ordered a couple of pitchers of beer, too. All in all, I would have probably given the food experience 3 stars, but the killer was the end of the meal. They brought our check--$107 and some change--and then, the waitress came up to us while we were still finishing our drinks and actually said "there's a lot of people waiting, so..." and made a "get out of here" gesture with her hands. Are you kidding me? I just waited an hour for less-than-good sushi and paid $107 for it, I'm not even finished with my drink yet, and you're actually shooing me out? Ridiculous.

    (1)

  • Stina L.

    Yes the wait is long. Yes you can only order once. But I have never left here feeling anything but satisfied. The sushi is great and always tastes fresh. The staff is pretty attentive even though they're handling tons of people. Once I've sat down I don't ever feel rushed and can sit and enjoy my salmon sashimi and tea in peace. I would definitely recommend the nigiri and sashimi. I haven't tried many of the fancy rolls but be warned that you will most likely accidentally order too much and leave with a giant to go box of leftovers.

    (4)

  • Justin V.

    Long line. Big rolls & cuts. Average taste. Super busy. Can only order once.

    (3)

  • Joanna C.

    My best friend and I went to Portland for a day trip. And we've been dying to try the famous Saburo's that our friends always rave about. Read someone's yelp review that you have to wait at least 2 hours long. That person was not kidding. I put my name down at 5 and I did not get in until 7:15. But I didn't mind because delicious food is always worth the wait. The sushi is the size of your fist. The presentation of their sushi will make anyone's mouth water. After ordering a rainbow roll, 4 orders of salmon, a order of seared albacore, a order of seared salmon and a side of ahi tuna poke, I couldn't breathe. But in all honesty, it was good... but not great. I've had better sushi in Seattle where the quality of the sushi tastes more fresh. Ladies and gentleman, it's not about the quantity, it's all about the quality. Just because it looks fatty and you get a decent amount of fish doesn't translate to great sushi. I was also thrown off with how much rice the nigiri had. A true nigiri should never have such a heavy load of rice underneath the fish. If I come back to Portland again, I wouldn't come here again, because it wasn't as impressive as people hyped it up to be. I could eat better sushi in Seattle than drive three hours to get to Portland, and wait an additional two hours for mediocre sushi.

    (3)

  • Paul E.

    This place has gone down a few notches. The rolls are big but taste mass produced now. The wait is what makes the food taste better. By the time you get in you're starving and you'll eat about anything and be happy you got it. Get with it guys, get a bigger space and go back to making better sushi.

    (2)

  • Tristan D.

    OMG. This was amazing. Went there on a Wednesday night and had to wait almost an hour to sit at the bar. The sign said their machine was down and that it was cash only but from what I've read on the reviews it appears that sign is always there so just note it is cash only. I can't even describe how large the rolls ar, everyone was walking out with a to-go box. The sushi itself is so fresh it is absolutely delicious. I especially loved the Philly crunch roll. We also got the rainbow roll and the dragon roll and started off with fried calamari. The rolls were better than the calamari. Our check was not given to us abruptly like some stated. We did not feel rushed, we had our check at the end of our meal, and we did not see the mean lady with glasses. Lol we were told to do this on a weeknight and not the weekend because the weekends are absolutely nuts.

    (5)

  • Breanna C.

    Hands down my absolute fave sushi spot. For a while I shunned sushi. However, after having saburo's my taste for sushi has been rekindled. The portion sizes are huge but don't compromise in flavor. Everything I've had has always been so good, so to pick a favorite roll would be injustice. But, For those unfamiliar with sushi, have no fear. The menus here are so easy to order from, my bf & I just love the fact that there are descriptions for every roll. My only suggestion would be to go early! As the lines tend to go out the door & wrap around the building.

    (5)

  • Tyler T.

    Ok sushi but worst customer service I have ever experienced. We ordered $90 worth of sushi, and they only gave us a tiny bit of wasabi and ginger. It got even worse when they charged us $1 for a small side of ginger. What kind of sushi place would charge for ginger? Saburo is probably the only place. %15 gratuity is always charged on the bill doesnt matter how many people there is and whether or not you are happy with their service. I am really not going back here ever again....

    (1)

  • Laura W.

    Not impressed. Food was fine but the service was awful -- rushed, rude, and never brought water even after we asked. They acted like we were an imposition on their evening. No plans to return.

    (2)

  • Evelyn S.

    "We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To Anyone" A red and white sign with those words is front and center when you enter Saburo's. A strong desire for Sushi is what had me trying Saburo's. Service - 2 star The staff were polite, they reminded me of a wind up toy, you must initiate the interaction, then you will be entertained as you watch them wonder around until they need to be wound up again. Food - 2 stars I don't believe there is any reason to fear the food. It doesn't taste awful nor is it past it's expiration date, it's more as if it is just past the "best by" date. The spicy tuna hand roll was the best tasting item, however it looked like a roll that had not been cut up rather than a hand-roll. Price - 2 $13.75 and up for a special roll may seem like a good deal until you realize you are paying for a whole lot of rice and not much filling. I too have seen the lines outside but when we ventured in at 5:45 on a weekday tables were available. The only wait time was the time it took for someone to decide to come over to us and seat us. We stood and watched for about 4 or 5 minutes without any acknowledgment from any of the staff. I don't mind waiting for a table but I do appreciate some acknowledgment, even a smile would suffice. This is the place to go if you like: - being ignored - initiating any service you receive - huge portions of overly sweet sushi rice Just FYI - I am a Sushi snob so this review may not apply to you. As I write this review I wish they had exercised their "Right To Refuse Service To Anyone."

    (2)

  • Winnie F.

    Ahhhh, aside from their huge sushi and udon, nothing else makes me want to come here. Long wait, terrible service, kinda dirty and run-down decor and how crowded it is inside....gaah. I just wish they will fix all that (but they won't). Also, what is this you can only order once non-sense? And signs everywhere about only able to split the bill 2 ways...I get it, but don't post it everywhere in the restaurant! Jeez. Maybe next time I will just consider to-go option. Also remember that your hair and clothes will smell like fish, for sure.

    (2)

  • Keith K.

    Be aware...sushi rolls are freaking giant. Sooo good too. The sushi rice was great. Almost perfect. I wish the sashimi was cut a lot thinner, but it was good. The poke was spot on. Loved loved loved the age dashi tofu.

    (5)

  • Grace S.

    EAT here! Yummy food, sometimes you have to wait but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Joanne H.

    Horrible service. Not worth the wait and the lady waitress is rude to you if you want to ask her anything when you order. The quality of the food has also gone downhill and the bitter service doesn't make it any better.

    (1)

  • Angel M.

    Food was ok. Worst service !!!!! I don't know how can the boss hire that lady to be server???

    (2)

  • Vijay K.

    Worth the wait? Absolutely! I've been coming here since I was in middle school(twenty four now) the portions and price have changed over the years the eel is a lot smaller portion and has increased in price. The sashimi and rolls here are extremely huge and yes not traditional but still very very tasty! I recommend dining mon-wed to experience a shorter wait and sometimes none! My only problems with this place is the service can be a little frustrating but keep in mind this restaurant is always packed!

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    Very good rolls but too large. Couldn't enjoy all the flavors because you can't fit the whole roll in you mouth. Had to wait for 2 hours. Table was still dirty from last guests. Service was quick to get you in and out but not the most helpful or friendliest.

    (3)

  • Salaam And Maharlika D.

    Sushi sushi sushi! Oh, and other Japanese dishes as well. But if you're craving some oversized, good priced, definitely get-your-money's-worth type of sushi then here's your spot. First came here years ago back when I was in high school and now in my mid 20s still find myself returning to the small and usually always crowded restaurant about once every month. Yes, the wait time is usually insane ranging anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours (which I have done before), but early on I learned that the best times to go are usually 15-20 minutes before they open, later in the evening past 7:30/8pm, or during a week night when the weather is yucky outside. Other than that, can't really complain much about the service and food. Although not thee best in town when it comes to those two things, I can't go anywhere else when I have a craving for a spider roll, salmon belly, and tempura udon. Other great things on the menu according to my taste buds: agedashi tofu, spicy tuna salad, gyoza, and big o' roll. If you're in the sellwood area, go check it out! You know your mouth is salivating now after the mention of salmon belly, ;p

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Awesome GIANT sushis!! Next time I'll get here earlier. We were the first ones not to be seated when they started giving out tables (so unlucky). The line wraps around the building and there's no wonder why. We waited a decent amount, but when we were seated, they were really quick with their service. You get to write your orders down on a laminated menu, which speeds up the process. We for sure loaded up on food (too hungry after such a long wait). SO WORTH THE WAIT. This place isn't just hype. The portions here are huge and just so good! I would especially recommend the salmon belly, seared salmon belly, and unagi. Those were definitely my favorites. Otherwise, yellowtail, creamed scallops, and their rainbow roll were all really good too! I'd pass on the fried rolls next time and just load up on more nigiri though. Staff here was nice enough. Food came out quick. Avoid waiting forever and come early, at least 30 minutes before open. Also, value is really great for the price. Enjoy your sushi experience!!!

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Horrible horrible service!!! We came from Washington state, after 3 hours drive, an hour wait, and based on the mediocre review on yelp, we did not order enough for three people. Then we ask the waitress for another order, she refuses to take order and refuses to let us talk to her supervisor. She says they have "one order per table" policy on the door, but there is no such paper write anything about it. SO DISAPPOINTED!!! We end up have to go to McDonald after this crappy experience. Never go for the fame again. NEVER

    (1)

  • Bachtuyet L.

    Mmmm Hawaiian rolls! One of my favorite sushi rolls of all time. It has spicy tuna mix, smelt roe, green onion, sesame seeds & mayo sauce rolled in sliced cucumber. I really enjoy the cucumber wrapping. It makes the roll tastes more refreshing and adds a nice crunchy contrast to the mushy fish and smelt roe. I get this every time and am never disappointed. Rolls here are huge! Nigiris are huge! You definitely get your money's worth. It's nice that they don't increase the rice to fish ratio either. Certain places will but a bigger blob of rice compared to the fish. Not cool. For the quality of the fish and the price you pay at Saburo's, can't complain. Ok, you can because the wait is fucking horrendous. Having sushi here takes planning and dedication lol. My bf went early to wait in line first before doors even opened. BEFORE DOORS EVEN OPENED. It was a Saturday afternoon and they open at 4:30. He got there at 3:45 and there was already a pretty good sized line; once they started seating, we ended up being one of the last parties seated. Crazies I tell ya! Lastly, it was a pretty busy evening and they limited us to only one order. So make sure you know what you want when they come back because it's your only chance! Busy restaurant also correlates with slower service. Not for everyone though. The two parties on either side of us received their order and pretty much finished eating before we even received our sushi. One of the gentlemen we sat near asked what we ordered and if it required the chef to go catch because he had noticed it was taking so long haha

    (4)

  • Annie C.

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

    (4)

  • Soria C.

    I LOVE this place. My boyfriend and i go here often and they may not always have the best service, but their sushi is AMAZING. Good size pieces and size of orders. They are quick to get food out. Honestly, they are only open for a few hours a day, but totally worth the wait. (They're less busy closer to 830-9pm because they close at 930). Highly Reccomend.

    (4)

  • Kathy L.

    Let's just start off with I've had many better sushi experience in my life. I've had Saburo's before, and the last time I went, it was about the same and I thought it was because the servers were rude because they were busy, but nope, it was about the same. We waited for awhile, which isn't a reason to complain, because there is a wait list, but once they called our name, we walked in, was seated, and she said "where is the rest of your party?" and we responded that this was our party, and she was like "no it was for 8", so we had to get out and wait again. She yelled the same name and no one responded and we were so sure it was us, we went to check out the name written and it was our hand writing but she called the wrong number so we let it slide, and she called for smaller groups (of like 3) to go and sat where we were sitting, which was the same amount of space just for us, and we had to wait another 20 minutes on top of that. Once we finally got called in, we were place in a super small booth. We received our waters, and kindly asked the server if we could have straws. The guy like scoffed at us, didn't respond, walked away, grabbed straws and literally threw it at our table, so we were like "oh he's probably having a bad day". We finally ordered and received our food. We ordered 5 types of rolls, sashimi, and a poke salad. This is where it got bad. One of the people in our group kindly asked another server because she was heading towards us anyway if they had orange sauce here. She responded and her voice sounded irritated at us, and was super sassy when we only bothered to ask her once and rudely said "Yes we do.... AND it comes with a charge" while shaking her head along with her rude voice like we couldn't afford sauce or something. So we were fine with it but really shocked at how she said it to us, and when the sauce did come out it went to the wrong table, so we were like "what the hell..." in disbelief. So when the chef came out with our rolls, we kindly asked him if we could have some orange sauce, and he was so kind in tone and was like "Sure! There is a charge, so is that okay?" and we were like "yeah its fine", and he comes back and tells us that they ran out of orange sauce, and we concluded that it was the wrong table that got all our large order of orange sauce. Then when we ate our sushi. We got started on the sashimi, thinking that they perfected removing bones out because almost all sushi places don't have bones in their sashimi, and one of the group members ate a sashimi and pulled out a bone and she was like oh they just probably missed that and she was fine with it, but then she ate another sashimi and found another bone and almost swallowed it! We were already upset about the lady with the bad attitude, and now we were more agitated on the sushi. No one checked up on us again until they decided to drop off the bill. We were confused on the bill price because there was auto gratuity of 15% and there was no pre warning on that. And I had a friend that went before and her group was a large group so I assumed that the gratuity was added on to large groups but our group was small. We peeked over at the next table which was a group of 2, and they also had auto gratuity added to it. We were fine with the auto gratuity but our problem was that our own server never checked up on us, there was really bad customer service in general, and it was that we didn't want to tip as much as it was added on because it felt as if they didn't even deserve that entire 15%. If their service was excellent we would have been more than happy to give 15% or 20% even. After we paid and walked out for air and was talking about whole commotion, one of the customers that walked out over heard us chatting even agreed with us, which is kind of sad. If I could give 0 stars, this would probably be the first place, but I'll be giving it 1 because at least the rolls were decent. Moral of the story is, we weren't trying to be rude at all, but if you are having a bad day, don't take it out on the customers, we were really stunned about it. We understand that people have their bad days, but it can't be like this every day.

    (1)

  • Greg M.

    Holy freaking cow! I went to this place on a Saturday, it was slammed. We put our name on the list and went across the street for a beer. Worth the wait. They give you a menu, and you mark which dishes you would like. We tried a little bit of everything and it was all phenom. The rolls are huge and there's a huge selection. They should definitely get bigger bottles of sake. 500ml isn't really enough to split with a 4 top, so you might want to order a couple. A few downsides, The size of the place for one, and how many people they pack in there for another. Not bothersome enough to give it any less stars, but it will be crowded if you go during the weekend. The service could be a lot better, but you write your order yourself, so that's not really the point at a place like this. Not to mention, they know what there selling is awesome, so it's probably easy to get impatient with people who don't know anything about sushi. All in all, it was probably the best food I had while visiting Portland. I'll be making it a regular stop whenever I'm up that way.

    (4)

  • James S.

    I enjoyed the food and was here years ago but hadnt done yelp and kids just started me on this and said for all the places I go I should. It was better the first time as the portions were large and some couldnt even get in your mouth so you miss out on the actual flavor of some items as you want each bite to have it all. But some were decent, prices were ok to cheap, but the first time I figured I was more excited this time was all about sitting there for 45 min and getting a glass of water and getting ignored. Not just slow but there was no customer service. I actually had to go up and ask who are server was. She finally arrived and said had to hurry to order as they will be closing soon. What a deal. Find anywhere else unless you just need it now, if you can wait it would be worth the wait to go somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Sarah R.

    The sushi was good, but not worth the wait. It was cheap and the rolls were very large, but they had a ton of rice! I was full quickly because of all the rice they use. I would go back if I didn't have to wait for an hour to be seated.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth G.

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

    (5)

  • Phuong N.

    Thing to know about this place is that you cannot order more than once on a busy day. It's a rule. So you have to order everything you want all at once. And tip is automatically included into the bill, so I assume that's why the service is not so great because we HAVE TO pay for their service no matter what. The rolls are huge, so you can get full pretty quickly. My favorite is spicy tuna roll! I recommend it! The parking space is small. I'm probably lucky, because the two times I've been there, there was always one spot left. The place is super crowded, so claustrophobic people might want to reconsider.

    (4)

  • Margo S.

    This is one of those places I wish I could rate things individually opposed to rating it all as a whole. So I figured I would Lay it out that way ;) The sushi: 5/5 stars!!!!! Holy Moley! Best sushi I have ever had. The portions are untraditionally large and quite amazing!! I'm always stuffed by the time I leave here in a very good way!! I am a repeat customer, my husband and I come frequently for date night. We love sushi and so far we have met nothing that compares to this deliciousness! I don't recommend taking a first date here unless you feel very comfortable in getting down and dirty while you eat (let's just say the process can be messy due to the size of the rolls when you eat them!). The wait time can be lengthy due to the popularity of the place but it's worth it! Here's a tip though. WINE BAR NEXT DOOR!!! Go there and have a drink while you're waiting! It's a great way to pass the time. While you're sipping on your Vino send someone out of your party to check the list to see if it's close to your time to be called :) Time flies when you try this method plus the wine bar itself is kinda awesome! Service:1/5 stars Don't come here if amazing service is pretty high on your list. They just want to get you in and then out to help with table turnover. They have a continuous line outside so they are about quickness and efficiency, not patience and taking their time with you. If you're with a party, even a small one, make sure to check if they added gratuity. They'll add this without saying anything so we've almost double tipped multiple times. Atmosphere: 2/5 This place has that packed liked sardine feel. So if you have space issues then you either need to get over it or go somewhere else. The decor is average nothing spectacular. Overall rating is 4/5 for me because food trumps all and I could care less about the other if I'm going for epic sushi rolls with a side of saki !!

    (4)

  • Julia C.

    The food is great! At least 4 stars for sure. But the service here is so bad. I don't feel like a valued customer coming here. The hostess at the door is pretty rude. You can't get a table unless your whole party has arrived, and you can only order your food once. It's a little odd. And no take out. My husband and I came on a Thursday evening. We were pleasantly surprised at how short our wait was, just 10 minutes. And they accept credit cards now. The menu is very straightforward with pictures of each item. You mark the items you want. The food comes really fast. You eat. You pay. You get a box if your plate is not finished. It's pretty systematic, almost feels like a fast food restaurant.

    (3)

  • Jeff W.

    I've been coming here for 10 years and have never been disappointed. The fish is fresh, the portions are massive and the prices are incredible, all things considered. 50+ trips and I can't wait for the next 50.

    (5)

  • Nicole B.

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

    (2)

  • Robert G.

    Love the dragon roll, caterpillar roll, river eel, salmon, Mt. Hood roll. Did not enjoy the spicy tuna roll, vegetable roll, spider roll, hamachi, Spanish mackerel. The hot green tea could improve . This place is so busy and you should be prepared to wait 1.5 hours.

    (3)

  • Megan Y.

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

    (2)

  • James D. H.

    Got here 1/2 hr. before they opened cuz from what I hear and have seen. There is no other way! That's if you want to ever see the inside. I have driven by here many times and fought the urge to stop in. No matter how many times I was told how good or how large the portions are. After my local culinary hero Chef E. told me to check Saburo's out and gave me the story on how to make the wait worth it, I had no choice. I had to make the journey at all cost. So here I am. Waiting. 7th from the front. My belly, ready! My mind reeling from pics of the menu. Waiting. 4 minutes to go. So hungry. Will I be disappointed? Must eat........now...... Open. Open. Open. I hear the lock click. The doors open. I walk in to cool refreshing air. Seated at the bar. My drink order taken right away as I cruze the menu in real time. I order the 9 piece Sushi (Chefs Choice) Deluxe. 9 pcs + Calif. Roll + Miso. ($16.75). I wait & wonder. Will I be happy with what I get for how much I'm spending? Will it even be any good? My order comes lickity split. I was surprised at how fast. (Nice.) It was more than i could ask for! The Cali Roll. Awesome! The Miso Soup. On point and the fish.... Fresh. Huge portions. Like, my big mouth had to take 2-3 small bites off the ends to finish it off and even then it was too much for my big mouth! The Rice was tender and done right. For me the $ was a little steep but worth every penny. I left full. I'm talkin really full! (Not to full to go to my second favorite Thai place for Sesame Balls.)

    (4)

  • Danielle A.

    We go here every thursday around the same time. We only have to wait 10 min at the most. One of the servers (with the glasses and ponytail) always remembers us and ensures that we will have a seat, she's AWESOME! . She is very friendly and welcoming, making sure that we stay as long as we want and enjoy our meal. The service is quick and moves fast always ensuring the diner knows what they are ordering and willing to help!d This place is great, we come Thursday for their delicious Unagi and Spicy Tuna rolls. Their chilled Ngori and Sake are super delicious. I would recommend this place to everyone (except I don't want to give up my table).

    (5)

  • Nathan Z.

    Come here and get your food and don't expect anything else. The service is horrible. I don't know why the server still work there if they get irratated from a simple request for wasabi. They force 15% service on two of us. If it is up to me , I wouldn't tip them. They are simply rude. Yes. The sushi taste good. But that's about it. The place has no parking. The space is very crowed. The bathrooms are very very dirty. You will appreciate McDonald's bathroom after using it.

    (2)

  • Tommy L.

    They hired a new hostess, and she is just the most passive aggressive, annoying ass bitch ever! Look out for the pudgy Asian chick with glasses. Biggest bitch ever! Extremly rude to the customers, and pushy, has an extremely condescending and aggressive atitude. Arrived for dinner on a Thursday night, it wasn't even a busy night. She refused to sit us OR any other party unless the whole party was there, fair enough, but the way she say it was rude. She has a condescending and bitchy attitude. Talk down to the customers like they are idiots. So a total of 4 parties were waiting by the door for her to sat us, while there are like 8 empty tables. When my party arrived, a waitress, who recongizned me, sat us down. My friend went to the restroom to wash his hand. She ran (I am serious) up to our table and asked in an aggressive manner. "Who sat you down!? Is your whole party here yet? If not, wait by the door!" WTF is that? FIRE THE BITCH!

    (1)

  • Magdalena B.

    If you come to Portland, don't forget to stop by this Sushi House. Their Sushi are big and super-duper delicious and fresh. The cut were so nice. The taste was uncomparable. So, I would recommend this to anyone! If you like hamachi , don't forget to order hamachi colar/ salmon colar. And the best fusion is big-o-roll

    (5)

  • Ray W.

    Fish is very very fresh. We like this place! Hope they have better system for waiting list such as texting us when table is ready.

    (4)

  • Donna K.

    I use to be able to wait hours to eat at this costco size Sushi house. I'm thinking it's only worth it sometimes now. They have a lot of rules reccently. Did you know theu charged gratuity for 2 people and we togoed 2 Bento orders? We asked for spicy mayo on the side and they charged us a dollar for each dish without letting us know it wasn't complimentary! Seems a little greedy if you asked me... it seems people come here for the unusually enormous sized sushi, but I love their grilled oysters - the oyster sauce is tangy and delicious, which they never seem to have anymore. I think I'll take a break from lochness size sushi for a while. Bonus: they have their always going special deep fried big o rolls- a tempura sushi roll with fish and cream cheese.

    (3)

  • Bill M.

    It took 1hr for my party of 5 to get seated, 45min for the food to come out, and we were squished- sitting shoulder to shoulder around a tiny table-BUT, it was well worth the wait. The sushi is around the same price as any other sushi restaurant, but what makes this place special is their HUGE sushi size and fresh fish. Best sushi place I've been to in Oregon & California. Definitely stop by if you're not in a hurry, there are no reservations.

    (5)

  • Christine W.

    BIGGER IS BETTER The sushi pieces here are HUGE! If you have an iphone, it is basically the size of your phone screen. Although tasty and a great BANG for your buck, the wait to be seated here is pretty LONG - usually 40 min to an hour wait depending on what time you go. The service is friendly and pretty quick. If you survive the wait, I would recommend ordering the Dragon Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Alaskan Crunchy Roll - i love unagi :)

    (4)

  • Sierra V.

    For big fat dollops of Sushi, this is the place. The appetizers are quite tasty too. Soups not so interesting. Expect long waiting line, sometimes impatient service; payment in cash is preferred; and they won't hesitate to shove the bill to your table before all your food arrive.

    (3)

  • Kitty K.

    Crazy huge portions. Super fresh fish. The wait was well worth it, but I suggest getting there as early as possible.... like BEFORE they open.

    (4)

  • Robyn S.

    If I could give 0 stars I would. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SERVICE. I mean, to the point where our server never once filled our waters, never once asked us if we needed anything or how the food was tasting. The server never came back to our table once. Oh and they are on an ice shortage- FYI. We asked for some ice to go in our water and the server brings it back to us in a side dish for sauce, which consisted of about 6 ice cubes. Seriously? Service was RUDE, inadequate, and very snobby. We will NEVER be back and we will make sure to warn our friends as well. Food might be decent but its not worth it..seriously find another place!

    (1)

  • Vadim V.

    It's a good place to try out. The rolls are very big as described. They aren't unique but are tasty. The diamond roll was really good. The spider had too much rice. Wait was 10 min max. The waiter kept yelling over my shoulder and the place is small, so it was pretty annoying.

    (3)

  • Ken W.

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

    (4)

  • Edna H.

    If you want volume and good pricing then this is the place to go. Just be aware the wait can exceed an hour or more. On Saturday, we arrived 40 minutes before they opened and weren't seated until an hour after they opened. The cuts of fish and rolls were of great size but the flavoring was mediocre. I'm down to drive and wait in line for great food but this isn't going to be one of them. If the wait is 30 minutes or less then maybe I will give this place another try. For now, I'll stick to my favorite sushi place in beaverton!

    (3)

  • Wes Y.

    This place is amazing and that is why there is always a line. The portions are huge and the prices are reasonable. The sashimi is always fresh and great quality. It is worth the wait in line. I have been here a handful of times and I will continue coming here. It's my #1 Sushi spot in the Portland area.

    (5)

  • Thien D.

    The sushi is good, the lady here is very rude. I know they're busy but I can't get good service when the charge 15% gratuity on my bill.

    (1)

  • Jeff N.

    Lots of hype, wait, and food. Yes, portions are very large. Yes, it's a pretty good value based on size/weight, but the quality of the cuts suffer (can't bite through the huge salmon slab on nigiri due to rougher parts of the fish) and you can't escape the feeling you're being herded through the place. I do think that if you choose items that might be less susceptible to questionable cuts you could be quite happy. I had a salmon skin roll that, due to it's size, seemed like a delightfully different dish than any I'd had elsewhere. I mostly enjoy the delicate texture of softer sashimi so I probably won't go back for that, but if I'm straight up hungry and willing to settle for a diced/mixed roll or cooked fish sushi, I'd probably try it again.

    (3)

  • Thomas R.

    Sushi is super fat! I won't come here for anything else beside sushi. What you think, you can eat, cut that order in half.

    (4)

  • Nathan B.

    The salmon belly, oh the salmon belly. The other sushi is good too, usually quite fresh and larger than normal portion sizes. The wait is always long and the dinning area is crowded, so come prepared (there are good places to sit and have a drink just down the block, or the nearby neighborhood is cute and a pleasant place for a little walk).

    (4)

  • Khang D.

    The foods are great and worth waiting, must be here at least 30 mins before their open hour. However, the staffs are a little bit too uptight and rushing. We still enjoy the foods regardless. Yummy!

    (3)

  • Sho I.

    BEST SUSHI PLACE IN THE STATE OF OREGON HANDS DOWN!!! Now I know that other sushi and Japanese places have been starting to open up in Portland. I don't know about any of these places and honestly I don't care---for one, I'm living in Seattle now, so I can be a Japanese food whore all my want and get my Japanese food/sushi fix in Seattle. When I come back to Portland, however, more likely than not I will make a trip to Saburo's. I remember going to Saburo's early to get a parking spot in their private lot and wait in line around 4:15pm---that's how good it is. The place does not open for lunch, which I don't blame them considering all the business they get for dinner. My biggest fave sushi is the SALMON BELLY---SO GOOD OM NOM NOM. Also, the other rolls are HUGE and price wise it's so freaking CHEAP! I never try the other cooked foods like oyakodon or calamari because this place is famous for its cheap and large ass sushi, and that's ok! I see some reviews about bad/slow service with big groups and what not, but this place is not really appropriate for a large group. Even though they expanded the restaurant a little bit with the back area, it's still not that big, so I would not recommend coming here with a party of more than 4 peeps.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    The lines are bound to be longer, but the sushi is well worth the wait...

    (5)

  • ANTHONY L.

    Place is under new ownership. You want extra wasabi, ginger or other sauces look to pay an extra 50 cents to a dollar each. How much does it really cost for these things? Do you really need to nickel and dime your customers? I've been coming here for over 10 years and thought this was absurd. There is a girl that handles the flow of traffic and takes orders. She is overbearing and borderline annoying...we were almost done with our meal and some people came in... She pointed to our table and said when they leave this will be your table. Deliberated or not that was rude because we're still eating and she was rushing us by doing that. She shouldn't be in the service industry... She should work at a Chinese restaurant because that's where you don't typically expect great service... So the check comes... Automatic gratuity.... That was the last straw for me. After being a loyal customer for over 10 years I had it...tips are supposed to be earned... With automatic gratuity u get sh*tty service I thought the food quality was still the same but it wasn't worth it with all the Cons... Not coming back... You used to be my favorite sushi place.. Goodbye

    (1)

  • Angela M.

    Even though the customer service isn't the best, I love the food. Not pricey at all. Long wait. But people wait because its so good obviously. Its nice they have a sign up letting you know there will be a wait. Place doesn't rink of fish either. Very fresh and kept clean. I always recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Sheena Y.

    Godzilla sized sushi! I mean the Nigiri Sushi is literally the size of a grown man's palm. My family and I drove all the way from Seattle, WA and we waited for quite awhile to just eat at this establishment. The wait was worth the food, and it's not just gimmicky super sized sushi that you are getting. It's actually super sized sushi that is quality, so for once you CAN get quality and quantity. The demand is high for dining here, so you have to understand the service, and if you do.... then you're dining experience will be A-OK! If you're around the Portland area, SABURO!!!!

    (5)

  • Ang C.

    Can we just talk about the salmon belly please? Salmon belly, seared salmon, scallops, freshest sushi. The fish to rice ratio is on par, and Sab's gives you a succulent cut of fish. Waiting outside makes this place all worth it.

    (5)

  • Nam N.

    Update: 1 stars now. service is just worst and worst with the big asian lady with glasses. Can't stand her. Her service just makes me hate this place. Previous 3 star review: This is actually my favorite sushi spot. $30 for two people and you will be stuffed for days with to-go in hand. Almost all the other reviewers are right on with all their comments about how wonderful this place is, or the long wait, or giant cuts of sashimi, so I will not repeat again- Three Stars - but for why? Just plain-old-terrible service-and I am not blaming the servers but the owners. I am Asian, I am use to and even okay with bad service but when its created by greedy owners its not okay. 1. You will get bad service because their are only 3 servers for about 100 people inside and 50 people inline waiting - these poor overworked people because the owner is too cheap to hire more. 2. You want ginger? Spicy Mayo Sauce? Wasabi? That will cost you $1 each. What the in holy Japanese restaurant being run my Koreans is this? It's like getting charged for ketchup at Red Robins or BBQ Sauce at AppleBees. 3. Gratuity Charge for bad service when dining for two -no comment needed 4. To-Go Order? That's a FEE 5. That Calamari was really good eh? How about I order another order one - Nope - Its like decisions in life sometimes you only get one chance - Order ONCE only no exceptions! 5 Stars for Food - 1 star for bad service = 3 stars To be fair - I will probably still come eat here, however probably not as often as I should be.

    (1)

  • Terry W.

    A friend kept on me to go back. It didn't change my mind much. There is no denying the portions constitute a great value. They are cartoon-like in size, just massive cuts of fish. Downside? Nothing was bad, but nothing stood out again. Nothing was sliced from an actual cut of fish, they pre-slice everything I saw and the result appeared to result in flavorless salmon, bland hamachi, middling uni, massive, but again, bland cuts of albacore. Nothing stale, but nothing with even a hint of ocean freshness. Good for a cheap fill-up, but only if one lines up at 440pm or so. I wouldn't ever wait in line here. It would be akin to lining up to eat at King's Buffet where the mission and one's expectations go little beyond stuffing one's self for as cheaply as possible. Miso was good, service was brisk, but friendly, but it was early and not slammed at the time. It's not snobby in the least to say there is much, much better sushi about anywhere else in town. But if you want sushi you can't even fit in your pie-hole, then this is your place. Have at it. PS Came back a week later, as I had business in the neighborhood. This time I kept it simple and ordered the 3 variety (you pick it) sashimi. Much better with no rice to fill you up too much, just fish. Actually, the hamachi and salmon was pretty good and fresh.

    (2)

  • Matthew N.

    Location: Sellwood neighborhood off of SE Milwaukie and Bybee. Parking: on-street parking. A wise man once said, "good things come to those who wait." I think he was talking about Saburo's sushi. The wait is long (40+ minutes), but well worth it. I would recommend either going at least 30 minutes prior to opening, OR writing your name down on the list and hitting up the wine bar next door or Laurelwood Brewing Co. around the corner. DAMN they serve some of the most ridiculously enormous sushi/sashimi you will ever see, and it's actually pretty cheap. And I'm no fish expert, but I think the quality of the fish actually isn't that bad either. No super fishy aftertaste is always a good thing in my opinion. The service is always pretty friendly but rushed because your seat is a hot commodity. Be sure you mark everything you want to order because you can only order once. I always get a kick out of their hand rolls because they're the size of a baby's arm. I would recommend the Mt. Hood roll (especially on a cold day because it's deep fried and comes with a warm dipping sauce), Salmon Skin hand roll, Tamago nigiri (the same size as your omelet from brunch!), and if you aren't into sushi or rolls, I was very pleasantly surprised by the Chicken Katsu-Don. Price, value, selection, nobody even comes close to Saburo's!!

    (4)

  • Lauren G.

    I. Love. This. Place. I don't mind the wait - it just makes me more excited about the disneyland-size sushi I will be devouring. Service can be a bit iffy - but other than that, great things!

    (4)

  • Mina S.

    Heard this was THE place, so we went of course. Long line. Only 1 beer available out of maybe 6 draft beers, and the beer was kinda warm and flat. 50 minutes wait after order. Food looked delicious and great, but kind tasteless and mediocre. Plus, the rolls were too big so it all ended up like a pile on my plate. The ahi nigiri was great, though. And why is my stomach hurting right now? Been there done that, it's not worth coming back, for me at least. There's better sushi here in this town.

    (2)

  • Katrina W.

    Here's how much I hate lines: if, God forbid, I end up in a place like Wal-Mart, and I have spent two hours filling up an entire cart full of stuff that I've needed for 3 years, and I walk up to register and there's a clusterclump of lines and no easy way out, I will abandon my full cart in the aisle and just go home. Not. Worth. It. Needless to say, Christmas is exclusively Amazon now. Screen Door? Fat chance. Understandably, then, I have resisted Saburo's for at least 10 years. Apart from the notorious wait, everything I'd heard about it rubbed me the wrong way: teeny inside, crush/rush, smells kinda fishy in there, but it's oh-so-cheap and the portions are HUGE! HUGE I tell you! So not my idea of a nice sushi experience. Last night, I finally caved and agreed to meet a friend there for dinner. At 6:30pm, there was a line, but barely a line. Weird! A sign on the door said their system was down, so they could only take cash. Ahaaaa... Luckily we had cash. Yelp asks me to rate its ambience: casual? divey? classy? Not really any of those things. It's more like: supermarket? It's super bright, a little loud, you don't want to stay for long, and they want you to keep moving. And contrary to what I'd heard, it didn't smell like fishy business, so that was good. We ordered two rolls plus a salmon skin salad and some salmon nigiri. When we got our order, it's like I'd forgotten where we were, because my first thought was: WHOA! Those portions are HUGE! And the food was actually pretty yummy. The joint has like 600 reviews, so I don't need to give it that extra benefit-of-the-doubt star, so I'm gonna stick with 3 and say: Saburo's. If I had to wait, I wouldn't go, but it's OK when the line is low.

    (3)

  • Davis C.

    Make sure you take a picture of the menu because they snatch it away from you real fast. And you can't have more than two menus if you wanna split the check. But otherwise it's a pretty good place

    (2)

  • Paul M.

    SABURo El Crappo tonight! Inconsistant second rate shitto food Thanks Obama less than the generous single star

    (1)

  • Summer S.

    Biggest sushi ever I've tried in my life. What I usually order are hamachi, salmon, and Saburoll. I felt their Agedashi-tofu is too sweet. Fish are fresh and tasty. But I wish they put less rice on the sushi. Sometimes I feel it's too much. I love the sushi here, but the reason why I give just 4 starts is their service. To me, it seems like they don't know how to treat customers. I understand the place gets super busy, but hey, we come here to enjoy the moment to have dinner, NOT being treated like a shit.

    (4)

  • Derik W.

    I went there for the first time today and it was very disappointing. After waiting in line for an hour in the hot sun, we were rushed to sit down only to be served warm tap water and have to wait another hour for our food. The restaurant was hot for the first half hour, had a weird odor and the service was mediocre at best. On the flip side, the portions of sushi were very generous for the price. However, don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Bonny L.

    Coming from the Bay Area, there are many great sushi spots already here so my bar for sushi is pretty high. I get the draw of big rolls..but this place just put too much rice in their rolls and found the seaweed was hard to eat. Plus, rolls should be cut into sizes where it is easy to eat.

    (2)

  • Shay P.

    THE BEST. The biggest, freshest rolls I have ever seen/had. You're trippin if you think otherwise.

    (5)

  • K A.

    One of the best sushi spots in Portland, in my opinion! You have to get there before they open if you don't want to wait forever, but even if you have to wait it's totally worth it. The portions are huge and the ingredients always taste fresh.

    (5)

  • Selena N.

    I have walked around Sellwood before but didn't know that this was there because it is on the other side of Milwaukie on Bybee. I had been recommended this place by many friends and finally tried it last night. It is an odd place. The way you order is a little odd. One menu for all to mark on. At least give a few so people can read to see what they would like to mark. Just a thought. The sushi though was outstanding!! A lot of food! The veggie and shrimp tempura was awesome! The onions/carrots tempura was especially yummy! We all left very full and happy! I'll be going back!

    (4)

  • Pascal P.

    Saburo's is decent but nothing amazing. The only special thing about this place is the size of the sushi they serve you. It's a lot of food for the price but I don't feel like it's entirely worth the very long wait and the not so pleasant atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Jena C.

    Love this place. My husband and I go here at least once a month we travel 45 minutes both ways for their sushi. Only thing that sucks is the restaurant layout is aweful and outdated and un appetizing. The tepid tap water and sticky tables with poor customer service leave more than a little to be desired but the food is what you come for and it's amazing. If the resturant was more welcoming it'd be a must visit to anyone visiting portland. But till then it's the best local sushi for the price by far.

    (4)

  • T N.

    People forget what the meaning of great food and service is. A place that once people enjoyed coming to for the quality of the food and feeling of family owned place have a become a horrible horrible place. Not only have the food have decrease but the service is just straight up un-call for and beyond horrible. since when does a restaurant automatically add gratituity for four people unless its something automatic because of a toddler because if that is the case, that is so wrong in so many ways. Tips is earned for the service and should not be an obligation to the customer. Who wants to reward something who can't even remember to get napkins or another pair of chopsticks. Who rolls there eyes because extra ginger is asked for. Condiments for a dish should not have to be extra money especially when a meal averages over one hundred dollars. Its a friggin sushi place for God sake, is it really necessary to charge someone spicy sauce or ginger for a massive plate of sushi! Unbelievable!!!!! Its like going to a steak house and asking for A One sauce and getting charge for it. Since have restaurants become penny and dimes! a place that gets so much business. Its ridiculous how policy are made up every time I come and its not informed to customers properly. Gratuity for a bill $100+ or 4 or more people. No more than 2 menu or credit card per a table. Can't order a second time, Being stare at and rushed while eating. Servers taking your plates away or tries to before you could even finish your food when clearly there is still food on the plate. i get that its a small place and you need a fast turn around time for other customers but doesn't mean to rush people like a fast food joint! This used to be a must go to place but I advised all who consider coming to think twice unless you are up for a horrible meal. Meaning the food may be great but the service just totally ruins it! I hope the owner reads this and that people stop coming. Its time to change your greediness for money and go back to how you got so popular!!!!!!

    (1)

  • Angik S.

    Food is good and relatively cheap. Service is awful and RUDE. DO NOT GO ON Friday, Saturday or Sunday. After the long wait, we were told that we could order only once! Ludicrous. We ordered Crunchy Alaskan role- decent taste; big size; nothing spectacular. Hamachi nigiri: really bad. Seared salmon nigiri: best of the lot. Salmon belly nigiri: pretty good Scallop roll: pretty good Unagi roll: best among the lot. Salmon roe nigiri: avoid it Shrimp nigiri: okay The best dish was salmon teriyaki. That is the only one worth ordering again. I have been to Saburo earlier and loved it. Not sure if their quality had gone downhill but it was not worth visiting again.

    (3)

  • Andrew K.

    If I could, I'd give 0 stars but 1 is the minimum. I have never been treated so badly and humiliated at a restaurant in my life. I understand it's busy and I can wait. I order a pitcher of asahi and large hot sake for me and my girlfriend and he questions me if I really wanted a pitcher... Yes I ordered correctly. Secondly we ask if the udon has broth and the server said yes so we ordered it. It comes out as a stir-fry... Strike 2. We didn't order a lot since we knew how big their portion was but figured we should order one more nigiri. The hostess/waitress said "we told you it's last call" when nobody told us anything. She brushes it off as if was a joke. Strike 3! She was very loud and annoying for us to enjoy our dinner. Other tables were getting decent service and I felt we should too. We are customers too! Plus they charged us for spicy mayo!! Who does that? Since our experience was so bad I just paid for the bill and left 0 tip. I'm a server/bartender, you should always treat your customers with respect equally! To top the night off, that same lady comes barging out of the restaurant yelling we're not welcome. EXCUSE ME? Since when is it ok to say that to a customer when you didn't do crap for our table? Tip is earned, not given! She pulls out its our "owner's rule" to tip and I said show me! She points to the sign where it says "we have the right to refuse service" what a joke. That has nothing to do with the quality of service and tips earned. I hope the manager or owner is reading this because she is incredibly RUDE and OBNOXIOUS! Anyways, food was ok. Not the freshest sushi but good. Overall you guys gotta do something about service and that lady!!!

    (1)

  • Tim C.

    Yes, this place has huge pieces of fish for their nigiri, and it's very well priced. Yes, you will have to wait to be seated. And yes, the service is terrible. I'll start with the wait: We had a party of 3 and we came at 5pm on a Sunday. Our wait time was around 30 minutes to be seated. Not too bad. I've heard stories that it took people up to 1.5-2 hours. I guess it depends on when you go. The food: The nigiri we ordered was huge, of good quality, and at a good price. I highly recommend the seared salmon - that one was my favorite. I also enjoyed the Unagi (eel) and Crab (not imitation, also very tasty). We ordered the tuna, salmon, salmon belly, and yellowtail. They were all good, but seared salmon is the way to go! I tried their Hamachi Kama (Yellowtail Collar), which was super fatty but very tasty. The food was definitely 5 stars. I'm not going to diminish or deny that. However... The service: From the moment I was seated (at the sushi bar), I felt we were rushed to get out as quickly as possible. The other two people in my party decided to walk around the block while I waited, and were about a minute away when I got seated. Of course, I called them to tell them to hurry back, but when I was seated, the waitress told me everyone needs to be here so that we can order quickly. I can understand that, and the two others came within a few minutes - no big deal. After we had ordered, the waitress asked us, "Are you sure that's going to be enough food for you?" We told her yes. She asked us the same question again, and said that we can't order more food after we order once, because of time constraints. I'm not sure I've ever heard a restaurant tell me that before, but ok. A bit strange, but ok. We weren't even halfway done with eating our food, and our check was already given to us. Ok, I get it - you're in a rush. Closer to the end of our meal, when there was still sushi on our plates, we still had chopsticks in our hands, bent over our food obviously STILL EATING, the waitress asked us if she should pack the rest of the sushi for us to go. What is that? Seriously - WHO DOES THAT? I mean, what's the point of having customers if you're just going to try and get them out as quickly as possible? Just to seat other customers, who you'll be trying to get out as quickly as possible? I don't know, but I'm not sure that's the best way to run a business. But what do I know? I just like eating sushi. Unfortunately, I may not be eating it back here again, because I'm not sure my business is valued. Hey, but it works for some people, obviously - they have long wait lines for a reason, right? So if you're ok with waiting a while to be seated, only to be rushed out as quickly as possible while you're eating, all for the sake of huge pieces of good-tasting sushi, then Saburo's is the place for you. I'm still one for valuing decent quality customer service. 5 stars for food, but 1 star for service - it evens out to 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Vance V.

    Closed until September 1st FYI! Yelp won't let me post unless my "review" is longer. Don't go out until they reopen.

    (5)

  • Samantha T.

    DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY. This was the second time I've been here and it will be my very last! As soon as my boyfriend and I got there, the first thing we noticed was this very obnoxious female server with short hair trying to regulate the people on the waiting list. If you know about this place, you will know that there is a long wait time. I am okay with waiting but I am definitely not okay with horrible service. All 3 of the servers that were working that night were very rude. We ordered some sushi and udon noodles. The girl next to our table had some udon noodles that were in a broth which looked good so I asked the male server who was taking our order if the udon noodles have broth similar to the lady next to me? he said "YES it does have broth." Our food comes out and the udon noodles are stir-fry style. I immediately brought it to his attention that my order was wrong and that I did not want this item anymore. He said "We don't take back orders". I demanded that he take it back as it was clearly his mistake. After that, the rest of our sushi came out and we noticed a abnormal color in the uni. Even the couple that was sitting close to us who used to live in Japan said it looked weird. After we finished our food we wanted to share one more seared albacore so we asked the waitress with longer hair and she said "Sorry we can't take your order, we already did last call." We told her that no one said anything about last call so after pulling teeth, she took our order. BIG DEAL. ONE freakin nigiri. Then later, we noticed that the guys next to us left and we heard that obnoxious waitress say out loud "Next time you see them, don't serve them! They are not allowed here!" I gave her a strange look because of her lack of professionalism and she said "What! We have the right to refuse service to anyone!" At this point, we were done and ready to go. Our bill came out to be around $55 and we noticed that they charged us extra for spicy mayo. Are you kidding me? Why not just charge us extra for wasabi too? Oh hell, Just charge us for soy sauce while you're at it. We had plenty of cash to leave tip if we wanted but I told my boyfriend not to tip as I felt that they did not deserve it one bit. As we left the restaurant, that obnoxious waitress came chasing after us. She said "You guys cannot come here again!! It is required to pay tip!!" Excuse me lady, but tips are earned!! That explains why they have such poor customer service because they think they will get tipped regardless of how they treat their customers! She does not have to tell us twice not to come here. We will never go back again nor will recommend this place to anyone.

    (1)

  • Sunny L.

    They used to have much bigger sushi. However, they had decrease their portions. Sushi is still 1.5x bigger but the price is 1.5x more expensive. The servers are arrogent and the service is shit. Factoring that, it's not really a good deal.

    (2)

  • Alvina C.

    What's so appalling about Saburo's? FIST-SIZE sushi. Aside from that, there's nothing particularly special here. I wouldn't mind eating here, but only if someone suggest here.

    (3)

  • Kristen K.

    Holy moly. Saburos serves up the biggest nigiri sushi I've ever seen! And you can get some for pretty cheap if you're willing to wait in line for rediculous amounts of time at peak hours (apparently many people are ok with doing so). Me? Not so much. Well, since we were on a family vacation, my fate was pre-determined by the rest of them. They planned ahead, went down nearly an hour before they even opened, and we were the VERY FIRST ones in line. Yes, the VERY FIRST *pat on back* While on vacation maybe one can get by with crazy actions like this. In normal life.....not so much. If I were a local I highly doubt I'd ever wait in line for over an hour, even if it was for monstrous sushi. The service was ok. Once the flood gates opened the restaurant was immediately packed for the first seating. The sushi was pretty good quality (I was pleasantly surprised), I liked their agedashi tofu, and they had quite a selection of various handroll creations as well. My favorite one ended up being the seared salmon nigiri. For the price....it was a damn good deal. In Hawaii, 2 diminuative pieces of toro nigiri will run you about $20. At Saburos, 2 pieces of toro nigiri was comparative in size to about 8 pieces of "Hawaii toro nigiri". Ya, it is all relative. You would sacrifice quality in this case. But whatever. The toro was alright and it was $5 an order. You can't go wrong with that.

    (4)

  • L Z.

    The sushi here is ok, I think people are only nuts about it because servings are HUGE. I don't prefer huge chunks of sushi, I would rather have many very small rolls than these big ones.

    (3)

  • Vy D.

    HUGE portions, SUPER FRESH sushi, if you don't mind the WAIT or getting there early at open time. I've been here many times. I mean the hawaii rolls are probably smaller than what they use to be in 2007, but hey, it's still my favorite rolls in this place. The freshness have never changed. the sushi was, is and probably will always be as fresh as the first time I've ventured in this cramped little restaurant. Note: to people who think the service is crappy. It isn't they are just too busy. Maybe I'm just use to asian services. Order, food, pay, leave, very little interaction with the waiter/waitress.

    (5)

  • Jenn N.

    Holy cow! How can a restaurant provide such big pieces of fish for such a cheap price?! Actually... I don't want to know. You do not go to Saburo's for aesthetic or ambiance. There is no story about which prefecture the rice was grown in or if your fish is from a sustainable source. It is a get in and get out experience. The restaurant opens at 4:30 and we wandered over at 4:15 on a Saturday. We did not expect to see so many people already queued up. We were probably persons number 35 & 36 on queue. Hilarious. We chatted for a bit standing in the stinky parking lot. The doors opened and we got the first seating! It's very easy to order as they give you a menu and a vis-a-vis pen and you just jot down how much of any one thing you want. We started with some soft-shell crab that was deep fried and seaweed salad. We then progressed onto a rainbow roll that touted 8 pieces on the menu. These were the 8 largest pieces ever. Each piece required four bites for me. Crazy... and Delicious! We ordered an assortment of nigiri next and were pleasantly surprised with the big pieces again. Each nigiri took about 3 bites. I don't know how they can charge almost half the price compared to other sushi joints but give so much more fish. The fish weren't the only things in large amount. The rice is used with a heavy hand here. I ended up dissecting my nigiri and took some rice off because they were very dense balls of rice. I wonder if they use a machine to shape the rice for nigiri. The rolls also have a lot of rice. It's hard to understand how big these pieces of fish are until you experience it for yourself. I highly recommend you try it out! I love this style of sushi! It's cheap, fun and nobody takes it too seriously. We loved the amount of options and the inventive rolls they had. We will definitely come back when we're jones-ing for huge amounts of delicious sushi.

    (4)

  • David W.

    I can see the draw to Saburos - HUGE rolls... However, be aware they do not accommodate Gluten Free diners. I tried looking before we went, but couldn't find anything, so I am letting all my GF friends know that Saburos isn't going to be a good fit. Also, for us, the rolls were too big.. I felt like I was gnawing on huge bites of rice and seaweed. We're going to stick to Bamboo..

    (2)

  • Deena L.

    Freshest seafood in OR! Hugh tasty sushi rolls. Had fun waiting in line to get seated...

    (5)

  • Aaron W.

    There is a line to get into Saburo's that starts about 45 minutes before the place opens. Basically, after realizing I didn't mind or care about waiting, I had to give this place the fifth star. It had been a while since I last set foot in this place, but the food (especially the large portions) and atmosphere remain the same. To my knowledge, you'll only have one chance to order food so that the people on the wait list can get their seat faster. SPICY TUNA ROLL: Five-piece roll that has always been my default option. Nice minced tuna, very fresh. Obviously not very spicy, but it is noticeable. SHOGUN ROLL: Eight pieces, contains delicious eel and avocado. Much heartier and very flavorful. TORO NIGIRI: Two pieces, thick pieces of toro. Again, fresh and very good. PHILLY ROLL: My friend and I got seven pieces. Deep fried roll with salmon and cream cheese. Again, a gluttonous, heavy roll. Dipping sauce was great. The total came to about $30 to $35, which, for the large portions, is very reasonable. While my panda stomach generally guides me elsewhere (because I must try new places for panda science), I hopefully actually remember to return here more often.

    (5)

  • Sandie H.

    People, there is nothing authentic about this place. That's why there are so many complaints about the service. It's just subpar quality sashimi super sized because that's what people want. They want value for their food and unfortunately, there are not a lot of people who know what good Japanese food/sushi should taste like so they are ok with mediocrity. Sushi is a delicacy meant to be savored in one bite, not 3 ginormous bites that leave the entire piece in shambles when you finally finish the whole piece. The biggest draw of this place is the mass volume you get for your money. That's it.

    (2)

  • Danika H.

    They serve a good cut of fish, but I really only come here because it's the closest sushi place to me that serves Uni. Unfortunately, the last three times I have been there they were out of Uni and they didn't say anything until they had put in the rest of my order. I would have gone somewhere else that had Uni available! They might as well take it off the menu. The "servers" are like army sergeants, you must order fast and no questions because they really don't give a crap.

    (3)

  • Andrea M.

    We came with a large group. We arrived 15 minutes before opening. It was a good thing, cause if we didn't get in first thing and take over a majority of the tables, we would not have been able to sit together. Service was okay. Best sushi ever? No, but it was darn good. Large rolls, good price. We'll be back. I would recommend it to a friend. I would rate it better than a sushi-go-round, fo sho!

    (3)

  • Becky L.

    It's been a while since I've returned and boy has the atmosphere changed. I'm not sure whether it's because I came here with a group of 10 (brother's birthday) or because it was a Saturday night, but it was simply just chaos. It was quite silly of my brother to have a birthday dinner of ten at such a small establishment, but the staff made it work. They initially started out helpful and accommodating, but it just went downhill from there. Some party members still weren't present and you can only order all together or not at all because they only take your order once. The food was ginormous and delicious. I could eat the steroid-looking salmon nigiri all day, errryday! You get what you pay for as the sushi pieces are larger than anywhere I've been to in town. Service is just horrific. The Asian lady with glasses had a very passive aggressive tone the entire visit and as we left, thanking and appreciating her help for dealing with a large table, all she said was, "Okay, bye. Okay, bye." So unpleasant and unnecessary! If you can tolerate below average service, but exceptional food, it's worth a visit!

    (2)

  • Justin N.

    I find it odd that this fantastic establishment (which I have eaten at at least once a year for 10 years) is not rated 4* on average. Yes, it is not the fanciest atmosphere, but it is by far the best sushi in the NW. If I lived closer I would eat there weekly, but we live across town so eat closer to home. So I give it a 5* to increase the average.

    (5)

  • Kristina I.

    Nope. Never again. Long wait, lies about machines being down (cash only) to avoid transaction fees, mandatory gratuity, changing extra for condiments, RUDE service, ugly presentation. None of this is worth the extra large portions. We're moving out of the neighborhood and I, for one, won't be missing this place.

    (1)

  • Johnson T.

    Quantity over quality. I haven't been to very many sushi places in Portland but next time I'm in the area I'll probably try elsewhere. I've eaten at Saburos three times now and each time has been a different experience. They do charge you 15% regardless of your party size. Also, they only limit you to one order which blows. The place is a bit small and the tables are squished together. Not to mention the lady with the glasses annoyingly tries to push you out the door shortly after receiving your order. Unless you come right when it opens and know exactly what you're going to order (which most normal people don't) you're not going to enjoy your time there. I wouldn't wait 30 minutes+ just to get rushed out. However, as for the sushi I can't complain... they're huge! Both the rolls and the nigiri. So, if you're looking to indulge in a ton of sushi for cheap this is the spot. But if you're looking to relax, enjoy your food or socialize with friends go else where. I would not recommend coming with a huge party (anything more than 5). It's definitely not worth the inconvenience and the wait. But hey, the thick cuts of nigiri for the price ain't bad.

    (3)

  • Rainy D.

    The only Sushi restaurant that I trust in quality and freshness. Always love going there when I'm in town.

    (5)

  • Binh N.

    Super good sushi & sashimi with extreme proportions. You'll always have food to take home after your meal. I would highly recommend arriving early or else you're in for a killer wait. I arrived there 14mins after they had opened (5pm) and was fortunately able to get the last seat. The next person waited ~30mins. I imagination week days are a slight slower but my waitress insured me that was fail. They're business 24/7.

    (4)

  • Jenn W.

    AH. I love this place! It's like Portland's version of Seattle's Musashis but better! I've never seen sushi pieces the size of my hand before! Everything is huge and so yummy! Everything I had was great. Can't complain about giant delicious sushi pieces. They have a large selection of items on their menu so there's definitely something for everyone. I didn't experience a line or long wait but I did go on a Thursday and hung out at the bar across the street until about 10 minutes before they were opening. This place is totally worth trying. It's inexpensive and the giant sushi pieces are if not anything else totally fun to take selfies with ;P

    (4)

  • David S.

    Best sushi in town. Worst service! First time in my life I ever had to go to the waiter to complain after being ignored for 45 minutes.

    (1)

  • William D.

    I stood in line for two hours in 40 degree December weather to eat here years ago. Something I doubt I'd do today. Sadly this place is a shadow of its former self. For a place I used to wait for hours and visit half a dozen times a year I find myself now maybe coming back once a year. What really set this place apart for me was the quality, sheer size, and affordability this place offered. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy eating here when I do, but I'm no longer the Saburos fanboy who stood for hours at the mercy of the Pacific Northwests bipolar weather. Quality and affordability have taken big hits for me. It just doesn't taste like it once did. For the price, it's hard to beat I'll admit. BUT PLEASE STOP NICKEL AND DIMING US ON GINGER, SAUCES, AND WASABI! A dollar for spicy mayo? Please. Extra ginger that undoubtedly comes bulk from a sushi supplier for .50 cents? Ugh. Wasabi that is made with water and bulk horseradish powder for extra? Maybe if it was real horseradish painstakingly ground fresh. But nah. It's like getting charged extra for ketchup on your burger, salad dressing on your salad, let's hope the ice remains charge free But hey, there are some positives still. The sushi still remains eye openingly large. We all know the moment of awe when your tables order finally comes and you think there's no possible way to finish. This place was amazing. And still has so much potential to be. But it's hard to justify standing in line for an hour now a days. There are plenty of sushi restaurants that have the quality in looking for without setting aside half my night.

    (3)

  • Mike D.

    Food is okay, don't know what the hype is. On top of that, that lady needs a serious crash course in professionalism. She was rude, obnoxious, and most likely a family member or close friend. I see multiple complaints about her but, she's still working there. You guys are horrible.

    (1)

  • Heather J.

    Nope. No.No.No. I stood in line here for and hour an a half. (why didn't I just have a drink at the wine bar next door? because of the person I was with. don't ask. but if you do go after reading my review, that's what you should do.). Saturday, at 4:30, and I stood in line for an hour an a half. And for what? the LARGEST sushi rolls I have ever seen in my life. One piece of a roll was about three large bites. One nigiri? The size of a toddler's arm. Ok, so now I understand why people go. If you want cheap sushi in almost vulgar portions, this is your place. Otherwise, you will have stood in line for an hour, for sushi that is heavy on the rice, heavy on the mayo, and with fish of acceptable but definitely not stand out quality. But, hey, maybe that's your thing.

    (1)

  • Jian Y.

    This was one of my best restaurant. However, today is so disappointed. Food price rise up through yeah is understandable but price rise up food quality and quantity are drop so much is not acceptable . This is not a right way how you run your business, you are cheating on your customers! Only reason will bring me back to this restaurant is you guys need to go back to how is was .before that I will tell all my friend what I feel here today.

    (1)

  • Christina N.

    The food here is great. Big rolls. However, I wish they could cut it to smaller sizes so you can actually put it into your mouth. The service is mediocre sometimes bad, never great though. Be warned! The bill always comes out with an automatic 15% tip already so don't double tip. That's how they scam you, it wouldn't be a problem if it was actually good service but it's not so it's very ridiculous and for them to not mention the automatic gratuity for you to leave more is illegal there should be prior acknowledgement. I have been scammed like 6 times prior to today. Very sad.

    (3)

  • Kayte J.

    Clearly the recent reviewers don't understand the nature of this beast. If you come with a large group you're gonna have a bad time. You waited for an hour and you probably have a smart phone, why not look up the menu and know what you want the moment you sit down? They're rushing you because they have ~400 covers a night and need to flip tables as fast as they can. They're rushing you because they don't want their customers waiting 3 hours for their table. Don't be the jerk that sits around and chats for 30 minutes after you've finished eating, you're the reason why the wait is 1.5-3 hours. I always have great service here because I never complain about the wait, order when they bring me water and tip them appropriately for their hard work. /rant

    (5)

  • Bobby C.

    Got in quick but it took a while to get my food. Not worth the wait to me but not bad sushi either.

    (3)

  • Marisa K.

    saburos is a great place if you want huuge okay grade sushi for a good price. quality is just okay, you obviously get what you pay for, can't expect high quality sushi for a low price. which is why I would suggest saburos if you're in the mood for a roll, I personally wouldn't come here if I was craving nigiri or sashimi where quality and cut of the fish is extremely important. definitely would recommend for people that are knewer to eating sushi and aren't looking to spend a lot. one thing I really did not like though was that 15% tip is already included into our bill yet our server assumed we didn't want change, as other reviewers have stated there isn't any real customer service at this place, it was a little annoying that they would assume we wanted to tip them $10 on top of the 15% for how little they did.

    (2)

  • Kevin P.

    We have been coming here for years. But as the previous reviews said, the service there is HORRIBLE. And it is very correct how RUDE the Asian lady with glasses is who calls you to your table is. THEY NEED TO GET RID OF HER. We love the food and don't even mind the wait, making an evening out of it. But we CANNOT tolerate the service anymore. We will not be coming back until this woman is gone!!! We were there last night. The "lady" called the name for a party of six. He was asked if all in the party was there. He said not yet. She said, rudely, "you just lost your table" and called the next name. She didn't even say "let me now when your party is all here and I will seat you". I gave it 2 stars only because of the service. I wish yelp had ratings for both food and service. My rating would be 5 stars for food and 1 star for service.

    (2)

  • Leah K.

    Best place for sushi near Portland. Fish is fresh and rolls are ginormous. Really long wait times during the weekend with average service. I still highly recommend Saburo's though!

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    What has happen to their great customer service? We had the typical 1 1/2 wait and we go right next store at a wine bar to wait in comfort. My wife does the every 15 mins check as we support the place next store. Our turn came up and my wife was there ready and the girl working the list asks my wife where is your husband? My wife said "just next door finishing his beer, well the girl said "unless your husband is right here in front of me you will need to wait. REALLY? I spent 35 next door and 100 here, if you give me a minute to pay my bill I'm there very quickly and ready to order in less than 3 mins Since the two places are right next to each other one. would think the two places would work together, but I guess not. Still good food but work with your neighbor!

    (3)

  • Brandon J.

    waited too long..worst service here, Enjoyed food.

    (3)

  • Shareef N.

    The Sushi was delicious, the girls were fine. I will definitely come again, I recommend this place to anybody who doesn't mind a short wait for incredible food and service.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey O.

    I have been a loyal customer of Saburo's for over 15 years. I have a whole routine. Put in my name. Go get a pint. Wait... then gorge myself on sushi. Tonight, I was really looking forward to the same. Our name was called for a party of two. We were told we would need to share a table. No big deal. We were escorted to the back room where the hostess told a party of six to scoot over because they were at a table for 8. They mentioned that they were there for a birthday party and were obviously uncomfortable for us to crowd in. They said, "we are here for a birthday party and it is a littIe awkward for them to sit with us". We said we would just wait for another table. The hostess told us that if we didn't take the table she would seat every group of whatever size before us. She was punishing us for not crowding in on someone else's birthday party. Folks at other tables were supportive and said they hoped everyone else would refuse to push in on them. I can say that I will not be subjecting myself to that kind of interaction again. I know the rules at Saburo's. I have followed them forever. I will not be returning until they fire that hostess.

    (1)

  • Joe S.

    Overheard and saw it happen. Group of six paid their bill and the mandatory 18% tip. Customer asked a server for more tea. The manager told the server NOT give them more tea because they would NOT give more tip. Rather odd, but that's the norm at this place. All servers are nice except for the manager.

    (1)

  • Vivian T.

    Woot. I loved this place. My girlfriend and I saw a friend post a picture on FB of her experience and just had to try it out while we were in Portland. The portions were huge and the price paid was very fair. We definitely ordered with our eyes since our total order came out to about 40 nigiri rolls + 2 hand rolls. It was a bad idea...and now I'm going to be eating sushi for breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day. Pictures for proof below! Only thing I wouldn't get is the Toro Sake (Fatty Salmon). It wasn't that great compared to the regular Sake so I would just stick with that next time. Also, the wait is ridiculously long. Be prepared to wait for at least 2 hrs on any given night.

    (5)

  • Lars F.

    Business was sold in 2014. New owners abusing past reputation. Now awful service. Poor presentation. Just don't even give it a chance. Saburo has gone downhill. But you notice the long line of people waiting! Must be a good sign? My response: lemmings. So many Japanese eat here, so it's got to be good and authentic. Well a LOT of Americans eat at McD's... that in itself does not indicate quality of food. Did I mention service sucks? Japanese pride themselves on presentation of food. Even if it's only ramen. Saburo's basically throws food on the melamine plate. Vegetable tempura... Should rename to their version of a blooming fried onion. Spice tuna roll looked like someone took a s**t on some rice. Don't be pulled by past reviews of years gone by. Do not think of Saburo for quality. Liken to a Denny's gone very, very bad. Darn, I'd take Denny's.

    (1)

  • Timothy M.

    While you may have to wait 30-60 minutes to get in, it's well worth the wait. Average price for super sized and super fresh sushi. The interior is small and a bit cramped, but seriously it doesn't matter. Once your order arrives you will be in sushi heaven =)

    (5)

  • Mankit Y.

    If it is not for the freshness and cheap price of the sushi, I would never line up for 30 mins before it opened and waited 60 mins for our food to come. The worst part, both couples seated on our sides, who lined up after us, got their food before us and got out way before we even smelt out food. And I'm now waiting impatiently for my food and writing this angry review.

    (2)

  • Ahran J.

    yeah, the service is not good due to extreme number of customers. but i only rate on food. I normally do not eat ikura, but this place had the freshest ikura i have ever tasted (salmon roe). I usually don't eat it because of the fishy taste, but it had none. salmon belly was awesome, hamachi was good, only thing I would eat elsewhere was ika, the squid. the rolls were amazing as well. I took off one star since they only sell the sushi by two, so it was difficult getting variety.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle G.

    Everyone's reviews regarding the HORRIBLE customer service is true. This place isn't as good as people make it out to be, especially after the customer service. First off, you WILL recognize the infamous lady with short hair and glasses when you come here--we did not even have her as a waitress and literally after FIVE MINUTES of receiving our food she asked us, "Will you be finishing your food or will you be needing a box?" My jaw literally dropped, how RUDE! And she was not even our server! I left ZERO tip, my guess is they probably automatically include gratituity because most give none or little. I'd also like to add that I think it is "interesting" and a bit disappointing how most say the food is worth the bad customer service.. Being rushed out does NOT mean the place is good, I would rather wait an hour for quality food and good customer service than go to a place like this with poor customer service AND a long wait. Lastly, the place smells a little funny and the bathroom just feels dirty. Not coming back! Ever.

    (1)

  • Ronald P.

    Sushi not the best. Customer service the worse. Five minutes from getting our sushi we're asked "will you be finishing your food here or should I get a box?" Who SAYS that? We were also thinking about ordering more sushi when our bill came just like that. I've never come across this kind of service, but being rushed to eat and order does not make a good restaurant experience. Management seems to only care about the money and not their customers. Needless to say, we left the same amount of tip as the amount of customer service we received: $0.00 Never coming here again.

    (1)

  • Alyssa M.

    There is definitely a long wait if you do not get there when they first open. However, there's a reason there is always a wait. Best sushi I've ever had. I was also very shocked to see the large portions!

    (5)

  • Patty L.

    Saw the long line and also read about the bad reviews about the bad customer services, but still couldn't resisit to try (I guess this is the human nature? you see the line and you think man...it must be good, how bad could the service be? So still wanna give it a try) Well, I was wrong! If you all been here then you would know which big Asian lady (short hair with glasses) I'm talking about here. The service is not just horrible, its totally unbearably disgusting. You can only order once? What kinda rule is this? They are just trying to push you order more at first. And ppl would just be like "ok ...since we waited for 2 hrs already, let's just order more to be safe". And don't even talk about their attitude and the 15% gratuity they force to charge. Besides the service, I don't even think their fish is that fresh. Scallops had a smell. And their tuna sashimi...what can I say? We know good sashimi should be having creamy, smooth texture, not chewy like rubber. Go try it guys! Hopefully you can be served by that big Asian lady, she will lead you to a whole new page of horrible customer service in your life :)

    (1)

  • Zach K.

    I've only been here once, but I can second for the rushed/poor service. After waiting for our table for 45 minutes and getting seated, they tried to move us out of our seats and to the bar so they seat a larger group. We had already had some food delivered and its just not something you ask your customers to do, unless you just don't care about them at all. As far as the food. I always order a similar combo of items when going to a sushi place for the first time: hamachi nigiri, albacore nigiri, and a spicy tuna roll. The tuna roll was strange and tasted like they had added something sugary and other filler that masked the tuna flavor and made the roll too large. The cuts on the nigiris, while yes were quite large for the price, were bad cuts. There were portions that I could barely chew they were so tough. I tried some of my friend's rolls that he ordered. While massive, they were nothing special. So I guess if you like feeling gorged on sushi, don't want to spend a lot, are ok with waiting for a long time and then being rushed, then this is the place for you. Which is really too bad. I live within walking distance and really wanted to like this place.

    (2)

  • Micheal K.

    After a two hour wait.... Saburo gives you a full PRISON STYLE food service experience. Beware of the big female Asian prison guard with glasses (probably for her own protection), she sets the rules and she follows orders, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! The Rules: 1: You only get to order once, and they do not cancel extra orders because they make your sushi within seconds and you HAVE TO BUY IT 2: Orders are automatically added a 15% commission for the prison guard's secret pleasure. The guard's claim is that orders above $100 or more than 4 people need to pay extra, NO EXCEPTIONS 3: You get limited amount of time to finish up your food, otherwise you get some big whipping from the big female Asian to hush you back to your cell 4: Fresh fish? I had fresher sushi from Iowa and it's nowhere near any water!! Summary: If you absolutely have to get sushi from this famous restaurant that the locals love for many many years... I would suggest getting it from local supermarkets. It's much fresher, cheaper, and way better service from the cashiers. Otherwise, save your time and money and enjoy a better life elsewhere. Or, come enjoy a full prison experience that you'll never forget :D Shout out to the female Asian with glasses, thank you for the full prison experience we will never forget!

    (1)

  • Ulrica J.

    Since I am a big fans of sushi, I always in for to try new sushi places. My Seattle friends were really craving for Saburo's, so long story short we arrived at Saburo's around 7pm and had to wait 2 hours to get seated for party of 6. Here are the pros and cons: Pro : 1. The order came pretty quick and although the wait was a nightmare, the size of the restaurant was pretty big. That make me thought that Saburo's was a pretty popular restaurant. 2. The sushi and sashimi have a pretty big cut size. Well, i am a big fan of sushi with less rice and more fish. 3. Ahi tuna was great, and as well the salmon collar. Order it for appetizer. Cons: 1. I am not sure if it is because it is already 9pm (almost closing time), but i immediately said "this is nothing to compare what i can have back home in SF, with lesser wait time". The hamachi tasted bad and the Uni sushi tasted like a fresh water rather than salt water (from sea) 2. They basically pushed you to order more since they only allow people to order once. For first timer and someone who came for other city / 3 hours drive from Seattle, that's a press "go button" to order like crazy. Well, i'd like to give another try to Saburo's despite of my undecent experience, since i believe judging that the restaurant is not good at the first visits is unfair. But for now, i rather stick to my usual places in San Francisco with fresher fishes, more delicious, and less wait time.

    (2)

  • Kedy S.

    For almost a decade I have been eating myself stupid here and there is great reason why, it's delicious! This is not a high end sushi restaurant, this is not Jiro dreams of sushi, this is just really delicious, huge, and affordable sushi (which explains why there is always a line). On to the review! 3 stars, So much good eating to be had here, sake-toro, negihama, hawaiian roll, crab nigiri with real crab, unagi, and more! if you're not into raw sushi, they have great cooked options like the seared sake, california rolls with real crab, the tamago is really good, and the udon's are delicious 2 stars, service, maybe it's cause I'm asian and I've eaten here for so long, but service here is alright. It's not great, it is a tiny hole in the wall, but it's not terrible either. They are quick and efficient. Pro tip for eating at this place, try to time your arrival 20 minutes before they open, or roughly in hour intervals after they open (when major waves of tables leave). Going around 8PM or after often has moderate success at avoiding lines. Get eatin'!

    (5)

  • Naomi G.

    My younger sister has been talking about this place for quite some time, and there always seems to be a line outside. So I gave it a shot this evening. It was 50/50 for me, only due to the fact that when I eat a piece of sushi I like to be able to put the whole piece of fish and rice in my mouth at once, and not try awkwardly biting and tearing a piece of octopus off a bigger piece of octopus. Long story short, the portions were unbelievably big. If you go there, you only really need to order two, two piece plates. Any more then that and you'll for sure have left overs.

    (3)

  • Alex S.

    First of all, let me say that I"m giving 2 stars purely on food quality. No, I am not butt hurt about poor service, as a matter of fact, the service was fine. No, I am not pissed that I waited 2 hours. I only waited 20 minutes and was the 3rd person in line when it opened. No, I am not a hipster who has never had decent sushi befor. I have eaten at best Michelin starred sushiyas in Tokyo as well as some of the best sushi places in the West Coast, and no, I am not trying to compare this place with Kyubei or Sushi Saito. With that in mind, here is what I found. Having seen the photos in Yelp, I already knew that this place was far from "authentic", but as I have found sushi places in Portland to be of quite poor quality compared to those in the rest of West Coast big cities, but as Saburo's was touted as one of the best in Portland, I had to give it a shot. The Joint: Very tacky decorations that is trying too hard to be Japanese, yet so so far away from authentic sushiya. This is worrisome and this confirmed that it's not ran by Japanese folks. The Chefs: There are 4 of them at the sushi bar. One Asian looking guy who did not speak Japanese, and 3 Latino dudes. Very worrisome at this point. The menu: Is it me or does it smell like cat piss? Then I found out that it was the smell of the Sharpie with which you are supposed to mark your order. You aren't supposed to order piece by piece to the sushi chef. What's the point of sitting at the sushi bar then? yep, NONE whatsoever. Part of eating sushi is enjoying the interaction with the sushi chefs. Not at this place. The service: I had no problems with it. Two Asian waitresses are definitely NOT Japanese, and one of them had a very abrupt typical Chinese accent which some may find rude. Have you had a really RUDE service at authentic Japanese restaurant? Have you had rude service at Chinese restaurant? So there's your sign if you find the service to be poor. And not really being able to interact with sushi chef...that's on another level entirely. Sushi: Well, damn.....where should I begin. Let me say upfront that if you are one of MANY yelpers who claim that this is "THE BEST SUSHI I'VE EVER HAD!"....I have bad news for you. You are utterly clueless about sushi or what it is supposed to look or taste like. You've probably never had a decent sushi before or have an inkling idea or what it is supposed to taste like. This was NOT the worst sushi I've had. But it was the most unbalanced, grotesque, and vulgar, obscene sushi I have eaten. The most important aspect of sushi is the sushi rice. I say it was 2/5. Fish was of prefrozen kind and not of the best quality but better than average. 3/5. Skill of the sushi chef who puts above two components together: 1/5, or perhaps 0/5. sushi rice was WAAAAAY too big, as well as being somewhat too mildly flavored and being overly sticky. It was also too firmly gripped and you had to chew it, which is common among novice "sushi chefs" who don't quite understand the concept of proper nigiri sushi. Fish cuts were also grotesquely oversized which made it feel like you were eating an onigiri (rice ball) slapped together with a large cut of raw fish. I would say that their sushi was about 3-4 times the volume of what a proper nigiri is supposed to be like. Folks, this is NOT what sushi is supposed to be. There is no harmonious disintegration of sushi rice inside your mouth that makes all of the ingredients come together. You have to CHEW this obscenity in fear of lodging a piece of maguro in your throat and choking to death. There is NOTHING nigiri-sushi like about this. Quantity over quality. That seems to be the motto here. This somewhat explains why this is popular among people who has never tasted real sushi before. Is it worth waiting 2 hours. Oh hell no. an hour? No F'ing way. 30 minutes? nope. I have no reason to return here. Portlandia. You can do better. You must.

    (2)

  • Greg D.

    Best flavors & selection for the price - anywhere in the PDX. The rolls come out pretty quickly, in spite of the number of people who FILL this place and they're extremely delicious and fresh. ALL their fish is fresh and the customer service is pretty awesome. You absolutely must wait in line if you want to eat. It opens at 4:30 on Saturday, we got there at 3:40 and were the 2nd table seated. Anyone who showed up at 4:25 waited an hour or more to sit and forget-about-it if you showed up at 4:30. Not sure why some folks gave less than 4 stars, haters mostly and probably don't enjoy their lives anyway. NOBODY at ANY time asked us if we needed a box or implied that we needed to rush - EVER. WE were a party of 8 and had the big table next to the front window. WE had awesome service, BUT, they did add gratuity onto our bill without telling us. So, check your bill before you pay. **Ignore the 1-star posts - they have no idea what good food or service is.

    (5)

  • Adriana M.

    I've been coming here for years service has never been their strong point food is good. I was just in today we where a party of 4 we had to split our bill 4 ways. We even did the math for them so they would charge us correctly. In the end they still managed to mess up our total. They didn't charge 15% gradituity to 2 of our friends and added the whole tip to mine and my boy friends. So we ended paying not just out tip but the other 2 people's tip as well and they said our totals didn't add up. I will be talking with someone next time I go in because this is unacceptable. Tip should be earned not expected. Last time I checked you charge 15% gradituity to a party of 6 not 4.

    (2)

  • Mark W.

    Saburo's has been around for a long time. My wife and I have taken our daughters there since they were in high school as they love sushi. That's over 15 years ago and the restaurant is still going strong. Main reason they are so successful is they believe in moving large volumes at a great price. Not your typical sushi place as the portion cannot be eaten with one bite. The sushi portions are ginormous! The portions are typically 2 to 3 times the normal portion size of most sushi places. Of course you can't be successful just by doling out huge portions without the food being tasty. Last time we dined there we ordered a couple of rolls (huge): 2 types of tuna; salmon; calamari and tofu appetizers. Portion size for the appetizers was big too! Tuna and salmon were very tender and fresh although huge pieces! I am sure the sushi chefs there has lots of experience slicing the fish to yield tender cuts. Plus the amount of food they sell makes sure the fish doesn't sit for too long. Be sure when you place your order to cut what you normally order by half. You can always order more as the portions are at least double what you normally would get at other sushi places.

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    Went there with my friend last month. The food was good. Calamari was ok but not that tasty. The 18% of gratuity was added on our check. It wasn't ok because there were just two of us. Upon the law, they can't add the gratuity on a tap of a party of under 6 people. My friend was mad. It was insulting customers. Those three servers should have known about the law. Marking up tip like this is not good. Two servers look like teenagers and one around 30s. My friend was gonna tip the servers 20%. So we tipped them the added 18%. The funny thing was my friend gave them tip, but she got change back. They need to be trained how to do the system.

    (2)

  • Jen L.

    Learning from reviews and their website, there is pretty much always a wait, so my sister and I arrived just before their opening time on Wednesday and there was already a line outside the door that wrapped around the building into the parking lot. Luckily we just made it in the door as the line filed in filling all the tables. Look at size of nigiri before ordering! The nigiri and rolls are pretty much double the size of regular sushi places, so be sure to keep that in mind while ordering. I did no such thing when I was there. Unfortunately. The sushi is not the freshest, but it was edible. Seeing such a huge piece of raw fish on top of a giant piece of rice may be too much to handle for those with a soft heart for animals though. The price is not bad for the size you get, but to be honest, I can't eat that much sushi and I like the variety, so I would prefer to pay a bit more at a place where I can order more of a variety of sushi without feeling the guilt of wasting food. If you prefer quantity over quality, then this is the place for you! I prefer to see sushi as a delicacy and I enjoy seeing the artful presentation of each dish, versus all the nigiri piled onto one giant plate. They also do not have ice for your water. They said the only ice they have is for those who ordered soda. This I have not heard ever my life. Their sesame salmon skin salad was really good though! If I go back, I'll most likely just get that salad and maybe one nigiri order and try something new on the menu.

    (3)

  • Shirley G.

    Big pieces of nigiris for really reasonable price!!! I have never seen such pieces of nigiris which takes two bites to eat it. The fish was pretty fresh tasting too. TIP... it is best to come line up 30 minutes early as this place gets packed!!! There was a long line before the place even opened! Anyways, the service was pretty fast since we already knew to order and was one of the few that order before everyone else. Plus, smaller parties are always easier to be seated. The place got filled quite fast and we were in & out within 30 minutes since my bf & I eat pretty fast. I think about this place from time to time...

    (5)

  • Minnie M.

    I am seriously disgusted with this place. I have been here several times in the past but after today's experience I will NEVER step another foot in this restaurant ever again. The service is TERRIBLE. The big lady with glasses and short hair was absolutely RUDE and obnoxious. If she does not want to work - stay the hell at home. I work at a place where we take customer service seriously and she definitely needs training on what customer service is. She not only ignored, cut my words off, but rolled her eyes at every other customer. I told her to stay the eff at home if she does not want to work. She should not be getting paid for her rude behavior nor should be working for an industry with customer service if she does not even know the BASICS for service. I would much rather pay extra for BETTER quality sushi and WONDERFUL service. This place is a joke. WOW mind you and beware people. So I basically came to do a take out order which they do not even offer: I told them I was here to just take food out and the rude lady said we have to wait and be seated which whatever alright thats fine. So I waited over an hour, was seated, put my order in, asked for boxes and boxed everything up MYSELF. Asked for more ginger which they charged 50 cents but alright I'm FINE with that too. And here comes my bill with a automatic 15% gratuity added to it. Wait excuse me? I'm giving you guys 15% for your rude service and MY self service? REALLY?

    (1)

  • Krystal P.

    I had some expectations coming into this restaurant for their rolls and sushi. There was a long wait and that is pretty normal for a popular place. Since my friends and I are not from OR, we waited for almost an hour to be seated. Once it was our turn, we were asked to be seated in a 2 person table when there were 4 of us. We squeezed in at the booth seating and put 2 chairs next to each other. We were literally sitting 5 inches away from the person next to our table. Really crowded and uncomfortable. Most of the sushi and the sashimi were out of our price range so we ordered about 5-7 rolls. It took a little under an hour for one roll to come out. It took another hour for the rest of the rolls to come. We were hangry (hungry + angry). The service was terrible. Really busy, but I noticed that the waitress did a poor job serving when the table next to us was trying to requesting some orders several times. So what do I remember coming out of this place? Ridiculous amount of time to wait to get in and get the food and poor service. The food? It was good, but not worth my time to wait. They really tested my patience level.

    (3)

  • Angela A.

    I'm reluctant to give even one star. Yesterday when my boyfriend ate a piece of toro, he got a FISH BONE lodged in his throat. For the next four hours, he said it was very uncomfortable to swallow and later that night my friend removed two fish bones from the back of his throat with tweezers. Even after removing the bones, his throat felt swollen and uncomfortable. The toro itself tasted so old and extremely bad quality. I have been a loyal customer of saburos for the past couple years. I don't mind the sometimes insanely long wait and the not-so-great service. What I find absolutely unacceptable is paying and eating sushi with bones in it. I will NOT be returning to saburos because I personally like to enjoy eating sushi without being scared of getting a fish bone lodged in my throat. For anyone who chooses to eat there, I warn you to be careful when eating their sushi and to look out for bones. That feels ridiculous to say for a sushi place. There are other much better sushi places that are worth your time and that won't endanger their customers. I'll be the first to say this place is overrated and not worth your time.

    (1)

  • Catalina D.

    Biggest sushi pieces I have ever seen in my life! Holy cow! Very fresh and tasty though! No points for environment, and service is minimal. Could do away with the automatic 15% tip. However, the lines outside are understandable.

    (4)

  • Clifford K.

    Best sushi in Oregon. Very fresh and delicious. Highly recommend for those sushi lovers.

    (5)

  • D F.

    Went recently and everything seemed a little better.. no other bs and food was good as always. Service has gotten a tad bit better. The wait time isn't their fault, there's just too many people going!

    (4)

  • Nita G.

    One of my favorite sushi spots. Excellent sushi and larger portions than you'll get elsewhere for lower prices than other quality sushi places. We ordered way too much our first visit and could barely finish; start off with a conservative order! The wait can be really long so be sure to plan ahead and show up before you're hungry!

    (5)

  • Grace K.

    A few years ago, my parents and brother sadly moved to Oregon to escape California job shortage, ridiculous real estate, and smog/smug. It depressed me for a few months but thanks to Saburo, their move is slightly sweeter. I will be the first to admit that I am in no way an Oregonian or even an Oregon enthusiast. I love California. I'll even gladly take my sales tax so long as I can stay here. But God help me, what I would do for someone to plop a Saburo somewhere closer to me! Our usual routine is to show up around 4:30 to get a decent spot in line (usually Mom or Dad sits with a deck of cards and starts up a game of black jack with other Saburo devotees) then check out the little stores nearby until we can get in, put our eatin' dresses on, and begin to gorge. I'm sure sushi purists would want to gouge out their eyes and sew them shut in hopes of never having to see something as atrocious as the bastardization of sushi that occurs here. Still, the giant (and I mean HUGE) rolls are a godsend for those who just want some yum yum in their tum tum. Besides... no sushi roll, no matter how large, is as big of a bastardization of sushi unless cream cheese is added to it. *shudder*

    (4)

  • Teri T.

    I LUV SABURO's... I think it is one of the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. I luv the size of the rolls..Yes its big, but its well worth it and I don't think they stuff it all with rice. I luv their tuna sashimi..it is so fresh here. I would like to thank this restaurant for their fresh fish. I nevered liked sashimi before, until I came here. Oh and Thanks to my brother and his wife as well. They were the ones who took me here. And every time I am in Portland visiting...I have to come to Saburo's for the rolls and their sashimi. Also you can only order once, so order big and go all out. I'm from California and I say hands down to the size of the rolls compare to having a quarter size rolls back in Cali. And come early and wait...cause there's always a line wrapped around. So yes, this one is yummyyyy in my tummmmyyyy.

    (5)

  • Conor T.

    This place has, at best, mundane fish. The upside is that it has a LOT of it, and the serving sizes are relatively huge. There's generally a wait, which for me is bizarre because quantity alone isn't worth waiting for. If the quality's lacking (and it is definitely lacking here), why wait?

    (1)

  • Rob A.

    This is one of the best Sushi Restaurants I've found in terms of quality, quantity and value for the money! Get there early and get your name on the list hanging just outside the front door! If you haven't had it before, expand your horizons and try the Hamachi collar. This is a tuna cut that has long been scrapped but has become one of the more sought after bits in finer sushi restaurants. A rich list of sushi, sashimi and the best Unagi I've ever had! Absolutely Delicious!!

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    Wow you REALLY get your money's worth here, the portions are huge! So why only three stars you ask? Perhaps bigger is not better when you pick up a piece of sushi (you do know that is the 'right' way to eat sushi right?) and try to dip the fish portion in the soy sauce and it breaks in half because it is so heavy. Not the end of the world and the quality of the fish did not seem to be lacking and I do like to get a good bang for my buck. However I really do not eat large portions of food often and ordering two-three things here would fill be up. While there prices are not high I would prefer lower prices and smaller servings myself. Ok enough beating of that dead tuna. The service was very good. A friend and I shared a table with another couple (they were older and did not talk much so I hope they enjoyed hearing all of our dinner conversation). If you like a lot of room in a restaurant you might want to think twice about this place, but whatever, the more the merrier in my book. Worth going to just to see the food.

    (3)

  • Tim C.

    I love this place. Yes the wait is long. Very long. Tonight I waited 1.5 hours. There are some who believe that sushi should fit easily into your mouth, and that is totally fair. But dude, I'm not one of those people, and when presented with the opportunity to get my bang for my buck with huuuge pieces of sushi for the money, I can't turn that down. The only thing that would prevent me from being a regular (aside of the fact that I live in California...) is the wait. If you go with friends, I recommend you order just a little more than you think you can eat. :-).

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    We were recommended to this SE Portland sushi establishment by a clothing shop owner in NE Portland, which is a good way of pointing out the widespread reputation of this joint. Most of what we experienced has already been said, but here are a few points: 1) Stay near the sign-in sheet. If you wander off and are not around when they call your name, they move rapidly down the list. I think they also may skip people who have hard names to pronounce, so sign up as "Bob" or "Pam". We got in after waiting only about 15 minutes on a Saturday night at 8pm. 2) Avoid the temptation to over-order. Saburo's sells well-endowed sushi, and we ended up leaving about an extra roll for the dish crew. 3) We found the service friendly and responsive. Yeah, they did bring the check early, but this is not a restaurant around which to luxuriously linger. Listen, if you are going to a restaurant with cattle-sized portions, cattle-esque ambiance, and prices cattle can afford, then expect to be treated like cattle. Extra bonus: the neighborhood has a ton of other interesting eateries, and as outsiders we were happy to stumble into this part of Portland for future dining.

    (4)

  • Harry H.

    This place is just plain nasty. We joke that "Saburo" means "cat food" in Japanese. The only thing it has going for it is that the sushi pieces are huge. But the fish is just gross, the rice is gummy and about the size of a baseball. Our waiter tossed our platter of food on the table, came back in a few minutes with the check, and then stopped by 3 more times to see if we were ready to pay. I just don't get what anyone sees in this place or why there is a line at the door every night.

    (1)

  • Alex M.

    If you're looking for great sushi at a great price with large portions in a laid back atmosphere, Saburo's is simply the best. If you're looking for dainty pieces of fish, an upscale decor with lots of frills and hand-holding, go somewhere else. But real sushi lovers flock here in droves for a reason: great value for money and an unpretentious attitude toward one of the most pretentious foods in America.

    (5)

  • Edward N.

    The people who are hating on this place are out of their god damned stuck up minds. This place is WONDERFUL, but let me address some quirks. 1) the wait - No matter when you show up, there will be anywhere from 5 to 15 parties ahead of you. The UP SIDE - the turnover is unbelievably FAST. If you can kill 30-40 minutes at Kay's Lounge across the street, Saburo's can turn over 15 tables easily. 2) the portion size - it's huge and it's DELICIOUS! For once in your lifetime, you can eat well prepared sashimi and nigiri at very affordable prices. If it was bad fish making people sick, why would there be a wait every day of the week with tons of repeat customers? Don't be a sissy. Shut up and eat your fish. 3) the service - It will be rather curt service. This is not a swanky sushi place with trendy decor and way overpriced drinks. They're not gonna coddle you and make you feel welcome to set up shop for 2 hours. BUT that's why you don't have to worry about tables ahead of you. They're quick and efficient. What more do you want?

    (4)

  • Adam A.

    What a letdown of a restaurant the service sucks and the food is flavorless I don't know what all the hype is about not worth the wait at all

    (1)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - The quality of the seafood here is A-OK (thus my rating of 3 stars). If you want the best quality, there are other places in Portland to visit. But for the price and quantity, Saburo's is actually not bad. I've been coming here for years. My friends and I come basically for one thing: To get our sushi craving satisfied while not being too hard on the wallet. I don't really like ordering the rolls because they're huge, and rice is a waste of stomach space. So when my friends order rolls, I basically just pick at the insides. As far as nigiri goes, that's what I'd suggest ordering. The pieces are huge. I've never been to a restaurant that has pieces so huge. And the prices are so low, too! When I eat nigiri here, I'll have maybe 1/4 of the rice underneath with all of the fish on top. The result is a plate full of uneaten rice, but your tummy will thank you. Arrive early to put your name down on the list, or come late to grab a table when the line isn't as long. But be prepared to wait. PS - If you really want to do take-out (which they do not allow), my friend has a trick: Come by yourself and sit at the bar (which usually doesn't take a long wait). Order a shit-load of stuff. Eat some of it, and then have them give you boxes for the rest of it. (=

    (3)

  • Bradford D.

    I love sushi, but sometimes I forget the difference between "good sushi" and "bad sushi". Fish is fish on rice right? I mean, I know the sushi-go-round places are technically the "bad sushi" types, but I'll still eat it. And then I go to Saburo's, where I am kindly reminded of great sushi. This place serves up the biggest rolls and fattest pieces of sashimi ever! It's so delicious and unbelievably good. It's a great atmosphere inside if you're in the front half of the restaurant. The back is away from all the sushi action and kind of a blah room. Definitely don't order 2 small beers though. A friend and myself both did and we were served 1 22 oz bottle to share...that's not even a pint a piece...I guess that's our own fault though! And ya, there's a wait...but it's good time to chat with your friends and relax.

    (4)

  • Rosenna T.

    Love love love Saburo's. This is my must eat in Oregon! Here's my tip for you: go 15mins before it opens, your wait time dramatically decreases by 45mins, if you can get in there as their first round of customers. My two must have items: Shrimp tempura: I normally don't like tempura, because they are oily and you feel like you are eating fried power. But Saburo's shrimp tempura had the freshest shrimp, the tempura was not oily and the crunchiness on the outside paired perfectly with the sweet shrimp. I almost want to say that it feels like they didn't use frozen shrimp for this deep fried dish. I should ask the owner about it next time I visit! The second must have item: Sea Urchin: I know, I know sea urchin has such a unique taste that its not for everyone. However, if you have had a super fresh one, you will fall in love with this expensive bite! I have had fresh sea urchin in a shell, opened right in front of me before, but the sea urchin that Saburo's offered was better and fresher than the ones that I have had. It doesn't have this fishy taste to it, instead it brings in this sweetness into every bite, and at Saburo's, it is definitely more than one bite!

    (5)

  • Aaron J.

    These rolls are huuuge! Order half as much as you normally order and you will still have left overs. There salmon skin salad is amazing and so are there gyoza (pretty sure they are tempura battered). Can't really go wrong with any of their rolls but like I said they are huuuge. It's nearly impossible to eat a piece in one bite and each piece of nigiri is about the size of a whole order at most sushi joints. Only reason it's not a five star is because the wait can be daunting...I've seen a sign that says it's a two hour wait. If there is a line and you want to get drunk before you eat you can always go to one of the cheap dive bars within a block and kill some time. Overall its one of the best bangs for your buck when it comes to sushi

    (4)

  • Melissa N.

    My oh my. The wait is long and now I know why. BIG FREAKIN' PORTIONS OF SUSHI. Reasonable prices for what you get. You will fill up so do not over order unless you plan to take some home. Salmon belllllyyyy wins my heart! They also have other great rolls such as the crunch rolls. They are enormous as well. 2 pieces of a roll and you will be 40% full. Seriously. Unagi, creamy scallop, Alaskan crunch, and philly are also delicious. Get there early if you can! Smaller parties are definitely more preferred. You will NOT be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Darren B.

    My friend in Portland who recommend I try here described it perfectly: "It's solid 7.5 sushi, huge rolls and fairly priced for what you get." He was spot on. It's not the best sushi ever, but it's good and their portions are not only generous but the largest I have ever seen. Some rolls are 3 times the thickness of the normal sized rolls you would get at other restaurants. I got the Mt. Hood and I'm normally not a fan of cream cheese in sushi (this one was recommended to me), but this one was really good. I also got the rainbow roll, which I do have to say was not worth it being one of the more expensive rolls. I would have been happier with a couple of nigri which are huge here too. This is the only sushi place I have ever been too where I routinely saw people leaving with doggie bags. One tip I must share is that the seaweed salad is a complete waste. It was the worst seaweed salad I've ever had and ultimately was pointless. Also, one person would be set with 1, maybe 1/2 rolls tops. Unless you can plow through loads of food, I would not recommend more than this unless you want left overs. Unless you have it later that night, sushi left overs are not the greatest. I would come again, but would order a bit differently. Service was decent too as was the atmosphere. It does get pretty packed.

    (3)

  • Christopher T.

    Been here a few times now. The sushi is very good. As others have mentioned the nigiri is very large. The rolls are crazy big. However, everything is fresh, the selection is great, and the service is good. Be prepared to wait for a table. Always crowded when I have been there.

    (4)

  • Michael F.

    The sushi here is awesome. The cuts are huge and the prices are so reasonable. This is an authentic japanese-run sushi bar that provides great cuts of high quality fish for great prices. You must get there early as they don't take reservations and you may find yourself stuck in an hour long line.

    (5)

  • Quency H.

    Great sushi at a good price. Get there early or wait for an hour + to get in.

    (5)

  • Rachael O.

    This is a very LATE review. I had heard about Saburo for a long time and my boyfriend and I finally decided to go. I was about to start dieting for a figure competition, so eating out for the next 3 months so this was the "last supper" Because we didn't plan well we got there late on a Sunday night and there were plenty of people waiting outside. Honestly we waited 2 hours which is a very long time. It got to the point where we were hungry but we had already started waiting so why stop now. Once we finally did get a table, I was very happy. To be honest I don't remember exactly what we ordered, I know we had urchin, sweet shrimp, quail eggs, etc. However, I know that it was fresh, the portions were great and for the amount of food we got the prices were awesome. Now this isn't Bamboo Sushi and all fancy and pPortland-esq, but it is good, and I love it. I enjoyed my meals so much that after my show next week I have already planned for a huge Sunday meal to help break the diet at Saburo. And now that I know about waiting we have planned to be back in town to get there by 4:30 to avoid long waits! Yummy!

    (4)

  • Paul L.

    the name for this place should be called "costco of sushi". fish is fresh!!! price is very reasonable!!!

    (4)

  • Kent X.

    This place is one of my favorite sushi spots in Portland (#1 IMO). I cannot call my self a sushi connoisseur but I can sure call this place delicious. This sushi tastes absolutely wonderful. The portions are off the charts. The size of a Saburo California roll is the size of a small woman's fist, no joke. As many people have mentioned, It is usually wise to arrive there about 15 minutes before 5:00PM. The line can quickly become large, and the wait is can be annoying. As long as you get on the sign up list you should be fine. I usually get on the list and go to Starbucks across the street. Do yourself a favor and visit Saburo's for some great sushi. ENJOY

    (5)

  • William H.

    The biggest sushi and rolls I've seen. A few selections filled an entire plate. There was a line out the door and even though they closed at 10pm they took our name and food order so that once a table opened up we sat down to our food which was a nice surprise. Very friendly wait staff.

    (4)

  • Chad M.

    Good food. Great prices.

    (4)

  • Maria P.

    Food poisoning deserves 0 stars. This is the second time I've tried this place and I just don't get it. The pieces are so huge that you can't fit them in your mouth... And there's so much rice that you can't even taste anything else. After not being impressed with the wait or the sushi, I had food poisoning for the next 2 days... And same with my roommate (the only thing we share was the ebi rolls). It hit us both at the same time and he was hit worse than me. Ugh. The thought of bad sanitation/contamination continues to make my stomach cramp up.

    (1)

  • Todd H.

    I went to Soburo's for the first time recently. The first thing you see is a long line of people waiting to get in. The second thing is a sign that says expect a 45 -60 minute wait, so you figure with all these people waiting it must be good, so you wait and finally get in. We ordered hot Saki and Miso to start. 20 minutes later no Saki or Miso (even though some people who came in after us have theirs ) 10 minutes later the Miso shows up but still no Saki. 10 more minutes and the Sushi and Saki ( finally ) are brought to our table. The pieces of Sushi are huge, but the taste is only average. The Tuna on my Maguro is the most uneven ( Lumpy ?) piece of Tuna I've ever been served on a piece of Sushi. ( Dull knife...Saw ? ) I also ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll. It has a Lot of red sauce ( not spicy though, more like Tomato Paste ). Don't waste your time here, there are many great places to get Sushi in Portland but this isn't one of them

    (1)

  • Andrew D.

    HUGE PORTIONS!!!! We made the mistake in ordering a lot of food. The udon is decent and the sushi is good quality. The prices are low in my opinion for what you get. The waits can be long, but well worth it.

    (5)

  • Mandar P.

    I love sushi, especially big size sushi. ;) I visit this place once in a while, whenever I feel like I can wait for at least 45 minutes for the food. This place is always crowded and one of the best sushi restaurants in Portland.

    (5)

  • Alvina C.

    What's so appalling about Saburo's? FIST-SIZE sushi. Aside from that, there's nothing particularly special here. I wouldn't mind eating here, but only if someone suggest here.

    (3)

  • L Z.

    The sushi here is ok, I think people are only nuts about it because servings are HUGE. I don't prefer huge chunks of sushi, I would rather have many very small rolls than these big ones.

    (3)

  • David G.

    I have heard people intentionally get long lay-overs in between flights so they can leave PDX to come to this restaurant. All though inconvenient I believe it, judging from the long line waiting if you get there after opening time. Every time I take someone from out of town hear, they do not believe me when I talk about the enormous portions, the artisan care of the sushi and value in price. Only when we are served do their jaws drop. My guests from L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Seattle are all amazed. They cannot stop talking about the price and portions. Don't go there for ambience, you can only order once due to the long waiting guests behind you. The service has become much more friendly over the years, since Mrs. Saburo had a couple kids, stayed at home and stopped working there (we nicknamed her Sushi Nazi :-) Definitely a must for all Portland Sushi Lover Visitors.

    (5)

  • Christy W.

    Love this place - I constantly crave their giant, fresh sashimi and friendly service. The long wait is part of the fun so you can go enjoy a drink or two at one of the many fabulous neighboring bars. Even if they miss your name being called at Subaros, once you show back up they will call you next. A friend and I went there and stuffed ourselves full of oysters, sushi, and sake and the grand total was $55. Can't beat that!

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Our search for a go-to sushi bar continues. Having heard good things, we came here at 4:45 on a Saturday expecting to waltz right in. The massive line came as a bit of a shock, but I was encouraged that a fairly high number of those waiting appeared to be Japanese (which is sometimes an indicator of authenticity). For half a moment I thought we'd found a gem. Our wait turned out to be 2 hours but fortunately we were able to grab a couple glasses of wine next door. When we were finally seated, I got a good look at the food being eaten by the people around us and at the work being done behind the bar. The nigiri was comically large and the rolls were larger. This wouldn't be an authentic experience, but I'm not such a snob that I can't enjoy some good rolls and a few glasses of sake, authenticity be damned. I asked the server if she could recommend a sake and her response was to ask whether I'd tried sake before. Forget authentic, this was going to be amateur hour. My hand roll was the size of a baby's leg. Nonetheless, it was decently tasty. The few pieces of nigiri I ordered (as a quality barometer) were massive but quality was decent. I ended up cutting some in half, making two normal sized pieces. The seared salmon actually had a very good flavor, as did the creamy scallop. Uni was not good and the actual sea urchin helping was surprisingly far smaller than what is typical. Then again, what the heck was I thinking ordering uni at this place anyway? Sweet shrimp was OK and came with the fried head, which is my favorite part. One of our rolls was very good and the other was not nearly as good. Everything had a ton of rice and, again, was ridiculously proportioned. If there is one word that sums up how I felt upon leaving Saburo's it is "ashamed". Ashamed that I waited 2 hours. Ashamed that I gorged on mammoth nigiri whose very existence is an affront to the art of sushi making. Most of all, ashamed that I sort of enjoyed it. If you measure the "value" of your sushi by the size of each piece, by all means this is the place for you. If you know better but need to squelch your sushi cravings for the next 6-8 weeks, this may also be the place for you.

    (3)

  • Dorene S.

    This Mom and Pop place is awesome! I've been to many sushi restaurants around the Portland and I've been a huge fan for years - fresh, big sushi. Favorites are Sake (Salmon), Unagi (Eel), Tamago (Egg), and Uni (Sea Urchin)...mainly like them because they're HUGE and fresh. Poke tuna and their fresh oysters on the half shell when they have them as specials (which seems to be everyday nowadays) are pretty awesome too. The fresh oysters on the half shell are dabbed with the most amazing citrus-like soy sauce. In regards to the "sushi-nazi" saying that you can only order once...well, they've let me add on orders the very few times that I've asked them to , even though there are miles of people waiting so YMMV. Not a fan of lining up unless there's a REALLY good reason to do it, I usually get there around 4:00 pm on Saturdays to line up - that way we only have to wait for 30 minutes!! KPI (Key Performance Indicators) ratings (1-5, 5 - best): Quality: 4 Delivery/Service: 3 (come here for the food, not service...and they don't allow any reservations) Cost: 5 (huge portions for the price)

    (5)

  • John Q.

    Worth the wait every time!

    (5)

  • Kimberly P.

    I don't know how I had never been to this place before now! Before you go, don't be surprised that there is a long wait. This place is well known and very popular, so it's no surprise that you may be waiting well over an hour. You can leave your phone number with them, go down the street to one of the shops or bars and they'll call you when your table is about ready. What you can expect here is some fantastic sushi - in American sized portions! You have to be a little strategic in what you order. You are only allowed to order the one time, so if you didn't get enough then tough luck. But at the same time you wouldn't order nearly as much as other sushi restaurants. Their sushi rolls are more like logs. The fish comes in slabs. It's pretty incredible. What keeps me from giving this place five stars is that you really do feel like you're being herded in and out of this place. I understand where they're coming from, they have a lot of patrons and they want to get everyone in. But it's also not very friendly that right after paying the bill, the busser asks you to please leave as other people are waiting for your table.

    (4)

  • Tracy Y.

    I've been going to this place since 1993 and it hasn't changed much. Huge portions, overloaded patrons with to-go boxes filled with all the food they couldn't finish because, seriously, how could sushi fill you up?! Well, it does. Saburo's aims to please....your stomach, that is. Your body, however, is still freezing its ass off from waiting the hour in line outside. Well worth it as I'm in my second decade of visiting. Hopefully, you will too. Minus one star for the wait.

    (4)

  • Mish N.

    Saburos has been a fixture in Sellwood for years. The food quality is usually better than average, but don't come here expecting service and atmosphere. Also, the huge portions--while fun--don't exactly allow you to enjoy sushi as it's meant to be enjoyed. Their nori (seaweed) has never been crisp, by the way. Until a new sushi restaurant opened in the area earlier this year, we grudgingly submitted to the long lines, minimal but courteous service (hey, I get the one-order-only, but can I get a refill on my water please? Or another beer?) but our last visit--last week--was awful. Food quality had declined, there were tiny flies everywhere, server was an a** (complianing that the next table didn't leave a tip, and for good reason) and a horrendous wait for our food. Lines are much shorter these days, and the restaurant wasn't all that crowded...Saburo's needs to kick it up a notch, since they have competition with Mio Sushi being only a few blocks away on Tacoma Boulevard.

    (3)

  • Sun P.

    I've been to Saburo's multiple times. The last time we were there, we were waiting for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Yes, I was not a big fan of waiting. Luckily, there were couple small restaurants/cafe around the area to go while we were waiting. Unagi and creamy scallop were my top two choices. The price was very reasonable and cheap per se, considering that they size of the sushi was really huge. Make sure to go there with an empty stomach!

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    great place to eat, sushi is huge and worth the price!

    (4)

  • Irma P.

    I could barely lift the sushis with my chopsticks. They're huge and incredibly heavy!! Totally worth the 45 min wait

    (4)

  • Chrissy S.

    Sooo I have honestly only had sushi at two places since I moved here in August. This is the second one, based on glowing recommendations by a few people. The result? My belly was stuffed with deliciousness as it should be. :) The rolls are massive. no no no. I don't think you understand. MASSIVE. Typically, I don't like it when I have to try to cram a huge piece of sushi in my face. You get that giant sushi cheek...ya know what I'm talkin' about? Either that or you have to dismantle it and it becomes like a little sushi salad. Yeah. This time I really didn't care. And you won't either. The cuts of fish are so fresh, and for the price, which is a huge draw, you can't beat it with a stick. Expect to be sitting in a row right next to people you've never met. Who cares! In my experience the people next to me were in a big group like I was. They had just finished up eating while we were ordering, so they had a ton of leftover stuff. Not only did they help us choose what to order, they let us eat some of theirs! Rockin! So here's the only thing. I have been told, though I do not know for a fact, that the chef has been labeled the Sushi Nazi. I don't know this person, so i cannot vouch for that. But according to my friend, you can only order once at this place, and that is in the very beginning, so you should always over order in case you aren't full, which seems unlikely. Whatever just go and nosh! You will lurve it! Just in case that littler rumor is true, play by the rules or No Sushi For You! :)

    (4)

  • Eva J.

    A short bus ride to Bybee? Heh. I wasn't excited about the bus drive but from work it was only like 10 minutes. Bus 70 let me off right next to Saburo's. I show up and I put my name on the list and my date shows up just as our table becomes ready which was only like a 10 minute wait. This small place was packed. I mean jam packed. People were still lining up and signing up. OK. I had expected that from previous friends remarks. OK, I was warned that the servings were gargantuan. Yes they were. We ordered flying fish roe w a quail egg ( i could be wrong about what kind of egg), eel, yellow tail, tuna, and the largest salmon skin roll I've ever seen. This salmon skin roll was bigger than my hand. Also the salmon skin roll was so delicious, not salty but smokey and sweet. I would go stand in line again just for that. The waitress forgot about the refill on our water like we asked but besides that everything was perfect. Looking around too was just amazing. Giant plates with giant portions, it was very American but with chopsticks. Although these portions are so large it's hard to stuff a whole piece in your mouth. I'll be back again and again!

    (4)

  • Angel C.

    best sushi ever!!! i only gave 4 starts because they only open 4 hours a day. ...but highly recomand it.

    (4)

  • Chris E.

    Any sushi is good if you drink enough sake while waiting

    (3)

  • Kate S.

    Not so good, but cheap. So, for the prices, I'll give it three stars. The roll slices are huge, as is the nigiri. But it's all pretty mediocre in quality. So go here if you're hungry and don't want to spend a lot. Not worth waiting in line, though, so if you are that hungry and there is a line just get a burrito or something.

    (3)

  • apollo o.

    1 hour and 45 minutes waiting outside in the rain ! They should have more covered waiting area for the customer waiting like forever! we got there at 7:15, got seat at 9:00 sunday. we had no car so had to wait outside on the street in the cold rain for 105 minutes! there are only 4 chairs inside, no space for standing to wait, we have to keep standing around dirty parking lot or the garbage cans for a loooooooooooong time.the owner of Saburo's doen't care about customers at all. they thought that letting us wait outside for long time and making a long line is a very effective flackery for free!!! Sushi is not worth to the wait at all. Don't stand on the raining street for NOT FRESH SUSHI just ONLY HUGE.

    (1)

  • Julie D.

    The hubby and I must have gotten LUCKY! There was maybe a 2min wait when we went. We were seated promptly and the place wasn't very full at all. I couldn't have anything raw at the time due to being preggo. But I was SUPER happy with the udon and spider rolls. I also took a small bite of my husbands tuna sashimi salad. Which was to DIE for. I can't wait to go back and actually eat the raw stuff.

    (5)

  • Eric D.

    My first time there yesterday and it was excellent! We got there just before 6pm and we didn't have to wait at all. As we were leaving, the line was out the door! The portion is huge! Their one piece of nigiri is probably about 2 to 3x of normal size. Definitely try it if you are in Portland area!

    (4)

  • Krit U.

    Went there 5 years ago and left without eating anything because of the extremely bad service. Let's say I'm a waiter and a restaurant owner, and I have never seen anything this rude before. I know customers can be stupid sometimes. I still deal with those daily. But no they didn't have to be that rude. Anyway my friends dragged me back there recently. I found out that the food was actually amazing. To be honest, you guys ruin my first impression. Normally I would have given it a 1, but great food so a 2 sound a little more reasonable.

    (2)

  • Carolyn P.

    So much sushi!!! The rolls are HUGE and I mean huge! If you looking to stuff for face with sushi for $20 this is the place.

    (4)

  • Brent C.

    It is really hard to get behind this place. I understand, to a certain extent, why people would want to go here, but the constant lines basically make this place the Voodoo Donut of the Portland sushi scene. There's something about waiting in line for food in this town that draws people to want to wait in line. I don't get it. Not when there are better choices right down the street. So what's the draw? Sushi rolls the size of a baby's leg for the price of your average, every day roll. They deliver this via lower quality fish and a truckload of rice, pass the "savings" on to you and call it value. The line starts to die down a little closer to closing time, so if you show up at 9pm for a late night sushi binge, I guess it might be worth the effort. But I live within a 10 minute walk of Saburo's, and I'll still go to Mio on 17th every time because the food is better and there's never a wait.

    (2)

  • G T.

    The sushi is fresh and for the size, worth the money. I have been coming here for years but although the food is good, the service has gone from good to average, average to bad, and now it has gone to hell in a hand basket. The service is downright horrible. They automatically charge 15% gratuity for TO GO orders of above $100, but maybe that's for the better since I only had to deal with the terrible service for a fraction of the time. They should really look into hiring staff who provide better customer service. I don't expect the sky, but if the service in a Japanese restaurant is worse than the service in Chinese restaurants on NE 82nd (and vicinity), you should be REALLY concerned.

    (3)

  • Joshua L.

    I have eaten here at least half a dozen times. I will continue going here. Yes, the line is generally long. Who cares? You sign in and then go have a glass of wine next store or a beer around the corner. If you want to eat immediately, go to a sushi track place and enjoy the rotting fish. No, the atmosphere is not great. Who cares? You should be busy man-handling your massive chunks of food anyway. If you want a dark, romantic experience, you probably shouldn't be going to a sushi place known for it's long wait, portion size, and rushed service. No, the service is not exceptional. Who cares? You do get your food quickly. Surprisingly quickly for how busy it is. If you want someone to fold your napkin for you when you go to the restroom and kiss your a$$, then go somewhere else. Yes, the food is ridiculously huge. And good. Damn good. It is far better than most other well-rated sushi joints in town. The value is unbeatable. One roll here is equal to at least 3 at most other places. Anywho, I am tired of reading all of the poor reviews because people have unrealistic expectations, are snobs, or just have poor taste. If you want some of the best sushi in Portland, and you want the best bang for your buck, come here.

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    Best sushi in Portland! If your not in line 45 minutes before it opens, your stuck on a waiting list. No reservations taken, and they really cram you in to a small space. But the prices are very good, and the sushi is well worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Steven S.

    I don't know how traditional the place is, but the portions per cost is an amazing deal. I went with a friend and between us we filled up on a bunch of items and only ended up paying $12 a person. There is going to be a wait, but they are great about keeping a steady rotation, and will still seat you immediately if you aren't there right when your name is called, so don't worry. The food is tasty, but it's mostly for the large cuts of fish that I recommend this place. It's the best combination of quality and price in the Portland area for sushi.

    (4)

  • Ian F.

    This place sucks. Plain and simple: the sushi and rolls are overly large portions of poorly made, not delicious ingredients. Giant balls of mushy rice, and something off tasting with the soft shell crab, uni, crab, salt water eel, ama ebi. Tuna and salmon were generic and flavorless. Everything you order is huge, and everyone takes a lot away because it just doesn't taste very good. Small negatives include long waits, silent sparse waitservice, 1 menu (2 menu per table maximum), crowded rundown interior. All forgivable if the food was good.

    (1)

  • Alex O.

    Saburo's is without a doubt my favorite traditional Sushi restaurant in Portland. I am a big fan of Sinju as well, but for completely different reasons. If I'm craving fancied up/Americanized special rolls, I'll go to Sinju, but if I'm craving some straight up nigiri and/or more traditional Sushi, this is definitely the place. I give this place 5 stars, because the food is phenomenal, the price is great, and with this place I don't get tied up in other things that might make me rate a restaurant lower, because my expectations here are different. Some of the reviews complain about the wait, but it's something I had heard about before i ever even went here for the first time, so it's never been a big deal, and certainly will not be something I will complain about. It's kind of part of the experience in a way and is expected, because the place is not that big, and they are incredibly popular. If you don't want to wait, then either get there before they open or don't go. Plus there are plenty of places to go grab a drink nearby while you're waiting, so it's not like you're stuck there for an hour plus. And in addition, you can ask for a menu while you're waiting so you can figure out what you're ordering before you go in. I thought it was also pretty insane how so many people kind of griped about the portions that they serve here, which are ginormous, because that is one of the things I love about this place the most. You really get the most bang for your buck for a category of food that is already on the expensive side to begin with. You can get way more fish for your dollar here than you could at Sushiville or any one of those cookie cutter sushi restaurants, and the quality is way better. And another thing, because the portions are so big you don't have to order as much, or you can have leftovers. In my opinion here, the food is very good. The quality of the fish is excellent, one of the best if not the best I've had in Portland. And while it might not be Michelin star sushi like from Jiro's or many other places in Japan, it is still very pretty and well put together; all one needs to do is look at the photos other patrons have posted on here. It's incredibly unfair to compare this to super high end sushi joints in Japan or the few that are in the states, because while this place is very quality in terms of its food, it also doesn't try to be those other places. And if they were, they'd be a lot more expensive, and probably wouldn't do very well in a place like Portland. Even still, ask any Japanese person where their favorite sushi restaurant in Portland is, and I'll guarantee they'll say Saburo's. One last thing: from one angle I can sympathize with some of the people who have reported customer service issues here; there seem to be enough of them to think that they might be flukes, but I will say that after going here at least a half a dozen times, I have never had a bad customer service experience here. They've always been really friendly, and while the overall atmosphere seems rushed, that again is the expectations I had before I even went there the first time, and can understand that they want turnover. Jiro's in Japan is evidently the same way, and they're 3 Michelin stars. Some restaurants, especially some sushi joints are about turnover and not necessarily about the sit-down experience. I also don't care as much that the inside of the restaurant isn't anything special at all, because the food speaks for itself. If you haven't tried Saburo's yet, I would highly recommend it. I'm already planning my next trip. Just plan on getting there before they open or plan for a longer wait and also large potions as part of your expectations. Just don't expect a lovely romantic candlelight ambiance, because that is not what these fine folks are about.

    (5)

  • Eunsik Eugene P.

    OVERRATED!! Is this only sushi place in PORTLAND?! I dont know why this place rated as FIVE stars..thier sushi come out like a piece of brick, fish isnt fresh at allll, way too long wait , and especially bad SERVICE!! People who rated this place must have very cheap taste and going for quantity instead of quality.

    (1)

  • Charlotte K.

    If only I could give ZERO STARS instead of one. Currently seated in one of the booths right now (6:45 PM) on a Sunday and yes, we had to wait an hour or so to get seated but that was not the problem. The problem with this place is the service - it was so horrible that it really overpowered all positive thoughts on the huge portions and size of the sushi and rolls. BEWARE OF THE FAT LADY... She came to our table quickly and rudely cut me off while I was speaking and said "let me look at this first before you talk to me". Incredible. Such aggressiveness toward a customer. She then proceeded to tell us that we can only order once and cannot add more before leaving! I still had more to add on and because she rudely cut me off she didn't hear the rest of my order!! I tried to get her attention again but when I finally did, she told another girl server to help me instead. Sure, this place has huge portions, but I will never be coming back here again because of the terrible service. (Plus, it should be more about QUALITY than quantity). Furthermore, they're in a huge rush in kicking people out as fast as they can -- my family and I have already been given to-go boxes and our check when it's clear that we are still eating!! On top of that, beware: I'm guessing because of their rude service so many people haven't paid much tip so they add in gratuity (15% tip) on your check without even telling you beforehand. They did not even deserve 15% at all. Also, I'm wondering if that's even legal? I don't know, I've never had that done to me before at a restaurant. Even still, how crazy is that? We decided to just pay it and get the heck out of there. Save your money and time.

    (1)

  • Rob L.

    I all my travels I have never had sushi as large, as fresh and as great at Saburo's - and I always scope put Sushi no matter where i am. the wait is hell, usually 45+ minutes so bring a jacket but its well worth it and causes us to go back time and time again

    (5)

  • Char L.

    Holy Crap! One of the highlights of my tour de Portland! The sushi is so freaking cheap here. Eight piece sashimi for like $8. The salmon sashimi was outta this world fresh!! The rolls were huge, averaging 6 to 7 peices each and very well priced at ~$6. I'd get the speciality rolls over the more plain rolls cuz even though they are the same width, the plain rolls have a lot of rice and not much fish. Order everything at once! They don't like it when you finish your meal and order more food. Restaurant is a bit small, so expect to wait if your group is larger than 4.

    (5)

  • Julie P.

    We waited about an hour on a Friday night for seats at the sushi bar. This place has a line out the door for a reason. The rolls are enormous and very reasonably priced. In my opinion, the rolls are uncomfortably big and very messy to eat. It's kind of... vulgar how wide you have to open your mouth. Good flavor, though. I enjoyed the sashimi more. Overall, very friendly service and pleasant experience. Will try it again.

    (3)

  • Samuel K.

    SUSHI CHUMPS, stop reading. Sushi connoisseurs, listen up. Do you really want to listen to the opinion of someone who professes "I don't really eat sushi, but..."? Do you really want to listen to the opinion someone who is more concerned about availability of "vegetarian" sushi? Do you really want to listen to the opinion of someone who loves "creative" rolls overflowing with sriracha sauce and cream cheese and God knows what else people are shoveling into them these days? Do you really want to listen to the opinion of someone who is SOOOOoooo happy that their sushi is like, THREE times the size you get at other sushi places? Or that it is SOOOoooo cheap? If you are one of the few people who understand why I'm bitching about these things, then you have to avoid this place at all costs. Saburo is all about huge, choke-on-a-raw-piece-of-gristly-fish pieces, with cheap prices, rude service and horrible wait times. If that sounds like something you don't want, you have to avoid this place at all costs. If you understand just how incredible a fresh piece of uni is, creamy, sweet, light, melting, then you have to avoid this place at all costs. If you revere the sushi experience, if you understand what it's like to be taken care of by a sushi chef from the beginning to the end of the meal, if you understand what it's like to look at a piece of sushi and just realize, looking at it, how much the chef has scrutinized every aspect of it, from where he sources the fish from, to what season he got it in, to how he aged it, to how he seasoned it, to how he cut it and how he selected which part of the fish, to what order in the meal he presented it in, THEN you have to avoid this place at all costs. Seriously, this place is a constant source of embarrassment for me. The fact that Portland is such an incredible island of culinary pleasure, and yet so many people here revere this place is completely beyond me.

    (1)

  • Brett M.

    So, I've only been here once and it was only my girlfriend and I on a weekday evening, which did have at least a 30 minute wait. There is very little seating or cover for those waiting, so I just recommend going when its not raining or bring an umbrella and expect to be waiting outside for a while. It is a very small place and seems to have a very loyal following, so I'd expect this wait to be constant about anytime you go (and make sure to get your name on their wait list). To be honest, I'm not a sushi expert, but I have been to a variety of sushi restaurants. So, with the amount of rave reviews about this place, I expected to be blown away by it. The food was very good, but in our opinion, not absolutely fantastic as many believe. We had Gyoza, Deep-fried Calamari, Philly Crunch Rolls, Mt. Hood Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, California Rolls w/ Real Crab and Saki. Other than the Philly Crunch Rolls having a bit too much cream cheese, we did enjoy everything else we had. I'm just not certain the wait and prices are truly worth the end experience, but please don't take this as a negative review, only that it didn't completely live up to all the hype we had read about it.

    (2)

  • Nicole L.

    You may have to wait for a bit to get a table, but that is only a testament to how good people think it is! The portions are HUGE, and the fish is good quality. Sure it's a but more expensive than a conveyor-belt sushi joint, but Saburo's is so worth the extra money!

    (5)

  • Trimaine B.

    I frequent alot of sushi places as fish is one of my favorite foods. Fish is probably the biggest reason I will not ever become a vegetarian. With that said, I have notice I have become somewhat of a secret sushi snob. I am particular with sushi, serving it is more than just eating piece of fish rolls and rice, it is an art form and I judge sushi with this in mind. Overall a OK experience. I have had worse sushi before, but I also have had tons better. The fish was fresh and the pricing was of the norm if not a bit on the cheaper end. The service was generally good as well. However a few things about the place put me off form giving it a higher rating. First off, the rolls are too big and fall apart. I do not know if this is a thing for this place of not, but these rolls were some of the biggest, if not biggest I have seen in my life. Some may not see this as a negative thing, to each their own. However, in reference to my idea that sushi is an art-form, big rolls are not within that art form and made the experience of eating the sushi awkward. In keeping with the awkward theme, the set up of the place is awkward, I did not feel like a sushi place to me. The general taste of the sushi, while not bad, was not anything special. It was somewhat bland. The ingredients did not seem to work together. It was as if something was missing. But I will say that the ginger was not dyed. Which is a big plus for me. This place is oddly popular, and I am not sure why, so maybe I am an outlier. Maybe I just had high expectations for this place since it was in Portland. I do not know. I will continue my quest and frequent other sushi places in Portland, but I am not quite sure if I will end up at Saburo's again anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Roman S.

    biggest sushi ever? at most places you have to order a lot to get full - not here.. everything is super-sized and cheap. quality is good (based on taste) this place is great.. however, this place has too many nuances (they can get away with it given their demand) better for smaller groups long line to get in (i recommend waiting at the starbucks across the corner). you can only order once, two checks per group, and auto 15% gratuity for parties of 5 or more. worth checking out at least once~

    (3)

  • Molly W.

    I've lived in the Sellwood area for two years now and finally bit the bullet and went to Saburo's. I don't think I'll ever want to go back... The sushi was okay, but nothing great. Really overrated! I have a take out box full of left over sushi that I don't even want, to be honest. I can't figure out why there is always a line. It's really not worth the wait. Not to mention the absolutely awful service! The ladies who work here are just plain rude! I get that their busy, but would it kill you to smile, say hello, and thank you. People are spending their hard earned dollars, the employees could be a bit more friendly. I left Saburo's feeling stressed and ripped off.

    (1)

  • Andrew D.

    Craziest wait ever. And for some reason my friends keep dragging me back here. I will say though I always get the spicy tuna salad because it is delicious. In addition the sweet shrimp is good too. If you have scrolled through the pictures and read other reviews then you know that the rolls are HUGE. Too big in my opinion, I need to take at least two bites per piece of sushi. It is a place I guess you should try at least once. However, if you are eating sushi for the quality of the fish, I would highly suggest that you go elsewhere, my personal favorite is Yokos.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    This was my third time here and definitely also my worst experience here. In the past I usually come later at around 7 or 8 so maybe the time of the day affects their wait staffs attitude. This time my friends and I went there at around 3:30 on a Sunday hoping to beat the crowd but of course there was already a long line and we ended up waiting for an hour and a half. However everyone who has been to Saburo's know this is expected and is well worth the wait. As soon as we got in and sat down we got asked by HER a total of three times whether we were ready but all three times were within a short time frame and every time we said no SHE (I'm talking about one waitress in particular because the other waitresses were nice but not this one with the glasses) would give us an annoyed look. I know you guys are busy and all but we just stood outside for over an hour, you could at least be a little patient with us. After we ordered it didn't take too long for us to get our food but at least two times it was THAT lady who handed it to us and each time she threw it in one corner of the table and when i say threw she literally put it down roughly and loudly. Luckily the remaining two dishes were served by a kinder waiter. After we were all done and they gave us the check we realized they have a mandatory gratuity charge for orders over $100 or parties of 5 or more (they did have that noted in their menus). We got done packing our food and were finishing our tea when she came over and asked if our check was ready and when we said no she gave us that "look" again and even took our tea pot away. That was just adding insult to injury but since all four of us were from the restaurant industry we know how important tips are to the wait staff so we accepted the charge they applied even though the service SHE provided definitely did not deserve the $18 they charged us. Saburo's has good sushi, their portions are HUGE, and they have reasonable prices but each time I've been here customer service wasn't their strongest suit and especially this time was the worst. They seem to know they will always be busy and will always have people lining up thus they don't seem to care how they treat their customers. Getting people in and out quickly seems to be their ultimate goal which is understandable since their seating area is not big at all and there are still scores of people lining up outside however charging us for shoddy service and then subliminally shooing us away shouldn't be the way they treat customers who come from all over Oregon and stand outside for hours just to eat at your restaurant.

    (2)

  • C P.

    Giant rolls, which is good, except if you want to order several kinds...you end up with too much food and sushi is never as good later. Fish is fresh and large portions as well. My husband raves about it, I find it to be adequate, but don't eat raw fish besides salmon and it's a bit overwhelming here. For sushi in Portland it's a good value, doesn't compare to Vancouver BC prices for sushi, but quality does.

    (4)

  • Mary-Christine C.

    ***Late post: Last November I made a trip to Portland to visit a few friends and this was our first stop. To this day I have yet to come across a sushi restaurant as generous as Saburo's!*** Nigiri with slices of fish so large my chopsticks could barely grip them! The wait was long but at least you can reserve a spot. Space was VERY scarce so avoid large groups or special events. This is definitely more convenient for small groups and small people (lucky for me!). You can only make one order so make everything count! Toro tuna runs out quick. Fish so fresh it melts in your mouth. The eel nigiri was one of my favorites. We ordered so much extra and had 2 boxes of to-go full! I will most certainly return when i'm back in town.

    (5)

  • Janice S.

    Came here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We made sure to be in line by 4pm (they open at 4:30 on Saturdays). There's a small parking lot that they share with the other small businesses. We were lucky enought to score a parking spot in the lot. Or else we would have to park on the street. There were maybe about 15 people waiting ahead of us and the doors opened just a bit after 4:30. The tables are very close to each other so there isn't much privacy here. We opted to sit at the sushi bar. The way you order is that you're given a menu to mark which items you want and you can also write in things such as "No roe", etc. We knew the sushi and rolls here were huge, but that didn't stop us from ordering a lot for just the two of us! We had the red tuna and salmon sashimi, creamy scallop roll, dragon roll, rainbow roll, seared salmon nigiri, crab salad and albacore nigiri. The dragon and rainbow rolls were more specialty rolls. Both rolls were pretty good, but due to the size and ingredients, the rolls do start to get mushy and you will need to put it in a small plate to pick at and eat. Very hard to get these rolls in your mouth! The nigiris were good and the salmon sashimi was very fresh and melted in my mouth considering the huge and thicker cuts that I'm used to. The red tuna sashimi was just okay. It will probably take you about 2-3 bites to eat each piece. I really was able to eat about one piece of each sushi/roll. Yes, the portions are very huge so be prepared for that. It may not be the best, but overall, a pretty good and decent priced sushi place to eat at if you're in the Portland area.

    (4)

  • Caroline N.

    Like others have said, there's a looooong wait to get in. It's all just a matter of whether you're lucky enough to arrive when the tables are done eating... or if you come when they all just entered. The sushi here are big, but anybody who knows Japanese food knows that it's not supposed to be that big. I feel like your mouth is just swimming with fish, and the subtleties of the flavors are then lost. They have some good rolls though (anything with unagi is bomb) but again I wish they were smaller so that you could have room in your stomach to try more things. Sometimes they can be too saucy and heavy and just fall apart since you have to take multiple bites. Regardless, you know going in that the portion-to-price ratio will be very good! The house sake was tasty too! The service was meh, they want you in and out in a very timely manner. I've found the bussers to be friendlier than the servers.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Be prepared to wait. But definitely worth it. Nice that they give you a menu while you're waiting so you're ready to order once you get seated. No drills approach but huge portions! My favorite place to grab sushi in Portland!

    (4)

  • Kirsten H.

    Sushi is big and quite tasty. I can deal with the wait and the service is ok. They tend to be forgetful but with how busy they are the service is bound to be slightly sub par.

    (4)

  • Tamara G.

    well worth the wait (and there always is one) huge portions, affordable and soooo delicious!

    (5)

  • M Y.

    AWESOME. If you like sushi and you like LOTS of it, this is the place to be. The sushi here is HUGE. Not exaggerating. Literally double the size of a regular piece. Prices aren't outrageous and you'll definitely leave full. Our group ate until we were stuffed, and averaged $20 per person (that includes tip). The reality. You wait a bit to get a table. Lines can get pretty long from what I hear. It's not a fancy place. You can't expect the "genuine" sushi experience If you're down for a LOT of sushi one night and you have time, hit up Saburo's.

    (5)

  • Dustin C.

    One of my favorite (somewhat) hidden gem sushi places in Portland. It's awesome, but they don't take reservations and you need to wait for a table for a pretty long time...that being said, the wait is always worth it.

    (4)

  • Megan H.

    Just like most of you said, there is NO serves at all. To be honest, their food is excellent, but there is no need to interrupt our conversation for asking more than three times if we need a box to go when we just started to enjoy the sushi although I know there are so many people waiting outside. It made me really uncomfortable:(

    (1)

  • Michelle G.

    This place is great! Definitely not exactly your "fine dining" type of sushi place, it's a very casual atmosphere. I've had a huge variety of rolls here, and I don't think there's been a single one I was disappointed with. The fish always tastes extremely fresh, the rice is a good texture and not mushy, still warm or overcooked, and the servers are highly attentive, friendly, and just damn good at what they do. The comments about the long wait for a table are TRUE however - be prepared to wait an hour for a table, on average. Sometimes on really cold or rainy days, especially weekdays, there's little to no wait because no one wants to stand around outside for that long (space inside is EXTREMELY limited). I think it's worth the wait, but bring a snack. Definitely NOT a place for young children if there's a wait.

    (5)

  • Dmitri A.

    Oh wow! I am not a huge sushi fan at all, but this place takes the cake for sushi. I went here for the first time a few months ago and every chance I get I go back. It is a great place to go to with a group of friends for an awesome and pretty cheap meal. I am veggie so I usually just order the veggie roll, which is the best I've had anywhere. As is the case with all of their rolls, they are huge, the rice is perfect, and the ingredients inside are top quality. My friends told me the same about their rolls of sushi with fish and other seafood. Also the yakisoba is outstanding, although I wish there were more veggies in it. The wait is typically pretty long, but that is why it is great to go with a group of friends. For a Japanese restaurant the kitchen is staffed by what seems to be 95% latinos, but you wouldn't have a clue just from tasting the food.

    (5)

  • Samantha M.

    This place is AMAZING. And it's ok if you don't all think it's AMAZING, because there are enough people waiting for their doors to open every night that they likely don't need your extra business. We always bring out of town friends to experience the magic that is this little restaurant, and they always mention it as a highlight of the trip. 5 BIG 'OL STARS for your Saburo! Like you even need 'em.

    (5)

  • Janie N.

    Two words: Sushi-Nazi. But the food is AMAZING. Go if you love sushi and don't mind waiting in line and getting a little bit of an ego-abuse, and only having to order once even if you cry and beg for more -- you're just wasting your breath and wasting their time as well. Just don't leave before your name is called, because they will forget you and proceed to the next customers. But don't let that stop you from going, seriously, it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Midge C.

    One of my talents is eating. That's right, I said it... girlfriend can EAT. I was once at a cafe, sitting at the counter, and chowing down on some corn beef hash. A trucker said to me, "Wow, you sure can eat!" I took it as a compliment. Okay, back to my review. While we were waiting outside for our table, I noticed that most people walking out had boxes of leftovers. Ummm... leftovers from a sushi restaurant? REALLY? Do Portlandians know how to eat? I scoffed that I would NEVER have leftovers from sushi. Novices. Okay, okay. I was so very wrong. We had a party of four and ordered 5 rolls and four nigiri. Everything was HUGE! I have never had nigiri that I had to eat in multiple bites. The novelty of this giant sushi made my whole night! Plus, it was really good sushi! Oh, and SUPER cheap too! Along with our rolls and nigiri, we had a couple beers. Our bill was just a little over $52! It was awesome... and yes, we had a whole box of leftover sushi. Oh, the shame. I think that trucker would have been disappointed in me. Added bonus: The endless opportunities for "That's what she said" jokes while you are eating here. Priceless.

    (5)

  • Miyun Y.

    My husband and I used to come here everytime we came to Portland but sadly the food and the service has slowly deteriorated. The fish isn't as fresh as it used to be and the service is HORIBBLE!! I went again with my co-workers to give it another try but again, they didn't fail to disapoint. We waited very long for a waiter to come and get our order and when we tried to get their attention, the waiter wagged his finger at us to wait. Then they added a 15% tip to our bill when we only had 3 in our party! When we tried to voice our concerns regarding the service to the Manager, the Manager told us blatently that he didn't need our service and we didn't have to come back. That's his solution?! Incredible.... Overall, I will never return here. The restaurant, the service and the sushi just isn't what it used to be. There are soo many wonderful restaurants in Portland. No need to waste your time with this one.

    (1)

  • Dan S.

    Before I became a sea-foodie and even a sushi-foodie (I used to despise it but slowly became a number one fan) my wife would rave about this place when we lived in Portland. I went there once with her and ordered some soup or something and didn't really see what was so great. But, after going back in June I have completely changed my mind. We started the line that routinely forms every afternoon at 4pm to ensure our table for six. Once the place opened (anyone that has been here knows this place is only open for like 4-5 hours certain days a week), we were seated right away. The rolls are huge! And super tasty! 'Nuff said!

    (5)

  • Ronald P.

    Sushi not the best. Customer service the worse. Five minutes from getting our sushi we're asked "will you be finishing your food here or should I get a box?" Who SAYS that? We were also thinking about ordering more sushi when our bill came just like that. I've never come across this kind of service, but being rushed to eat and order does not make a good restaurant experience. Management seems to only care about the money and not their customers. Needless to say, we left the same amount of tip as the amount of customer service we received: $0.00 Never coming here again.

    (1)

  • Patty L.

    Saw the long line and also read about the bad reviews about the bad customer services, but still couldn't resisit to try (I guess this is the human nature? you see the line and you think man...it must be good, how bad could the service be? So still wanna give it a try) Well, I was wrong! If you all been here then you would know which big Asian lady (short hair with glasses) I'm talking about here. The service is not just horrible, its totally unbearably disgusting. You can only order once? What kinda rule is this? They are just trying to push you order more at first. And ppl would just be like "ok ...since we waited for 2 hrs already, let's just order more to be safe". And don't even talk about their attitude and the 15% gratuity they force to charge. Besides the service, I don't even think their fish is that fresh. Scallops had a smell. And their tuna sashimi...what can I say? We know good sashimi should be having creamy, smooth texture, not chewy like rubber. Go try it guys! Hopefully you can be served by that big Asian lady, she will lead you to a whole new page of horrible customer service in your life :)

    (1)

  • Zach K.

    I've only been here once, but I can second for the rushed/poor service. After waiting for our table for 45 minutes and getting seated, they tried to move us out of our seats and to the bar so they seat a larger group. We had already had some food delivered and its just not something you ask your customers to do, unless you just don't care about them at all. As far as the food. I always order a similar combo of items when going to a sushi place for the first time: hamachi nigiri, albacore nigiri, and a spicy tuna roll. The tuna roll was strange and tasted like they had added something sugary and other filler that masked the tuna flavor and made the roll too large. The cuts on the nigiris, while yes were quite large for the price, were bad cuts. There were portions that I could barely chew they were so tough. I tried some of my friend's rolls that he ordered. While massive, they were nothing special. So I guess if you like feeling gorged on sushi, don't want to spend a lot, are ok with waiting for a long time and then being rushed, then this is the place for you. Which is really too bad. I live within walking distance and really wanted to like this place.

    (2)

  • Micheal K.

    After a two hour wait.... Saburo gives you a full PRISON STYLE food service experience. Beware of the big female Asian prison guard with glasses (probably for her own protection), she sets the rules and she follows orders, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! The Rules: 1: You only get to order once, and they do not cancel extra orders because they make your sushi within seconds and you HAVE TO BUY IT 2: Orders are automatically added a 15% commission for the prison guard's secret pleasure. The guard's claim is that orders above $100 or more than 4 people need to pay extra, NO EXCEPTIONS 3: You get limited amount of time to finish up your food, otherwise you get some big whipping from the big female Asian to hush you back to your cell 4: Fresh fish? I had fresher sushi from Iowa and it's nowhere near any water!! Summary: If you absolutely have to get sushi from this famous restaurant that the locals love for many many years... I would suggest getting it from local supermarkets. It's much fresher, cheaper, and way better service from the cashiers. Otherwise, save your time and money and enjoy a better life elsewhere. Or, come enjoy a full prison experience that you'll never forget :D Shout out to the female Asian with glasses, thank you for the full prison experience we will never forget!

    (1)

  • Alyssa M.

    There is definitely a long wait if you do not get there when they first open. However, there's a reason there is always a wait. Best sushi I've ever had. I was also very shocked to see the large portions!

    (5)

  • Ulrica J.

    Since I am a big fans of sushi, I always in for to try new sushi places. My Seattle friends were really craving for Saburo's, so long story short we arrived at Saburo's around 7pm and had to wait 2 hours to get seated for party of 6. Here are the pros and cons: Pro : 1. The order came pretty quick and although the wait was a nightmare, the size of the restaurant was pretty big. That make me thought that Saburo's was a pretty popular restaurant. 2. The sushi and sashimi have a pretty big cut size. Well, i am a big fan of sushi with less rice and more fish. 3. Ahi tuna was great, and as well the salmon collar. Order it for appetizer. Cons: 1. I am not sure if it is because it is already 9pm (almost closing time), but i immediately said "this is nothing to compare what i can have back home in SF, with lesser wait time". The hamachi tasted bad and the Uni sushi tasted like a fresh water rather than salt water (from sea) 2. They basically pushed you to order more since they only allow people to order once. For first timer and someone who came for other city / 3 hours drive from Seattle, that's a press "go button" to order like crazy. Well, i'd like to give another try to Saburo's despite of my undecent experience, since i believe judging that the restaurant is not good at the first visits is unfair. But for now, i rather stick to my usual places in San Francisco with fresher fishes, more delicious, and less wait time.

    (2)

  • Marla S.

    Tried Saburo out after reading the great reviews, and could not believe this is what everyone is raving about. 8:30pm on a Monday and had maybe a 30 min wait, fine. Atmosphere wise, not impressed: I had a lovely view near the restroom, right in front of the staging shelves/area. Our waiter was very nice and helped to pick out a good Saki. We handed in our order. Now, I read in other review the portions were big. I was definitely not prepared for the MONSTROUS pieces served. This to me was not at all enjoyable: having to take multiple bites of one sushi piece defeats the purpose of enjoying the flavor arrangement (especially for rolls). Most enjoyable was the regular sushi since it doesn't have the other ingredients. And the hand-rolls literally look like seaweed burritos. Actually for the ridiculous portions, the fish wasn't too bad. Overall, not what I enjoy in my sushi dining experience. Seems best fit for college guys, since it's cheap and they usually have huge mouths. If you like a nice, relaxed dining experience with normal size sushi: SKIP Like to shove huge chunks of fish into your mouth? go for it!

    (2)

  • Ursula G.

    decent sushi, the wait sucks, especially when there is a snow storm and you have to wait outside. wish they would remodel, or change the decor... it's very fast food-ish.

    (3)

  • Amanda L.

    First of all, you need to know that I (and my date this evening) are vegetarian, and yes, we both love sushi. We kept meaning to go to Saburo's but were always put off by the long wait and the fact that everyone talks about this place in regards to the fresh fish, which we do not consume. However, I must say that the food was amazing, "even" for vegetarians! There are 4-5 sushi options plus of course seaweed salad, miso, edamame, etc. for us vegetarians. Like so many others said, portions are huge. We ordered about what we normally would at another sushi joint but both had lots of leftovers for lunch the next day. So, vegetarians, go and try this place even if you don't eat fish! I had to write a review specifically for you. The reason I gave this place 4 stars, though, was that I felt the service was lacking. We waited an hour with only 6 or so tables ahead of us, which we knew was a possibility. But after we were seated, someone dropped off water for us, asked if we wanted anything else to drink, and rushed away. Then someone different almost grabbed the menu out from under me (which you check-mark your order on) before I could double-check that one of the things we wanted to order was vegetarian. Then a totally different person dropped our food off. Then we had to flag someone down for water refills and later, for the check. I understand that they were busy, but, being someone who was in the service industry for 8+ years, I know that each table needs and deserves attention when they are paying you. Overall, we will be back, hoping that the service is better. Or at least take-out will be in order soon. Anyone know if/when they do take-out?

    (4)

  • Jenn H.

    My fav sushi restaurant in Portland! It's not unusual to see the line wrap around outside. Come on a weeknight and the wait is reasonable. If you're buddies with the guy who calls you in then he'll hook you up! I've seen it happen (but not to me, ha) the Hawaiian Roll is my favorite! If you're a fan of salmon nigiri, get the Salmon Belly instead of the Salmon! it's much more flavorful ^_^ the Unagi here is another favorite of mine ^_^ If you're a fan of maguro (red tuna) then I wouldn't even bother, though...it always disappoints me =( As everyone else said, the portions are huge, the value is good!~~~*

    (5)

  • Cindy Y.

    i can't stop raving about this hole in the wall restaurant. Anytime I have people come visit me in Portland, this is one of the many stops I hit- and even if they don't like sashimi, the rolls here are equally delicious. Just the size of the rolls are due for some shock and pictures! People say that there are better restaurants in beaverton and what not, but living in clackamas, i don't want to venture allll the way across the river for sushi when there's a perfectly great restaurant in Sellwood. I would definitely go with someone that knows sushi and what different types of fish are, it's a fast paced restaurant and there's a lot of pressure to order as soon as you sit down because you waited so damn long.

    (4)

  • Kama I.

    To all those who give one star or "CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM", they can't please everyone but if you are dissatisfied to such an extreme degree--TELL THEM YOURSELF so they may improve, rather than publicly write such disdainful reviews. BUT..I LOVE THIS PLACE. If you are unsatisfied and "will never return" that's fine, more room for me and everyone else I know! All other positive reviews speak for themself!

    (5)

  • Helen Y.

    The size of their sushi often impress people... It is always crowed with people waiting outside. It is worth it if you're very hungry that night craving for sushi. This is the spot for cheap sushi that will fill you up. They don't always do to-go orders, and... they don't take your second order neither. I love their Hawaiian-roll a lot... and their spicy tuna salad is another dish I usually go for~! The more people you have in your party, the longer you have to wait in line for usually... I suggest going there either at 4:30 (when they start to open for dinner) or 7:30 (when they first group of customers finishing up with their dinner)

    (4)

  • Sierra V.

    For big fat dollops of Sushi, this is the place. The appetizers are quite tasty too. Soups not so interesting. Expect long waiting line, sometimes impatient service; payment in cash is preferred; and they won't hesitate to shove the bill to your table before all your food arrive.

    (3)

  • Robyn S.

    If I could give 0 stars I would. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SERVICE. I mean, to the point where our server never once filled our waters, never once asked us if we needed anything or how the food was tasting. The server never came back to our table once. Oh and they are on an ice shortage- FYI. We asked for some ice to go in our water and the server brings it back to us in a side dish for sauce, which consisted of about 6 ice cubes. Seriously? Service was RUDE, inadequate, and very snobby. We will NEVER be back and we will make sure to warn our friends as well. Food might be decent but its not worth it..seriously find another place!

    (1)

  • Abbe and Jebby E.

    My family moved to Sellwood when I was eight years old, and the most consistent thing about this neighborhood has been the masses of hungry people lining up outside Saburo's. Shitty Thai restaurants come and go, the space on the corner of 17th and Sherrett has been a thousand things while I've lived here, but the little sushi shop on the corner of Bybee and Milwaukie has endured, and so have the hordes of customers. Not rain, nor sleet, nor driving wind can keep them away - in the dead of winter or the middle of a heatwave, it doesn't matter, there will always, without fail, be a line outside Saburo's. So, you could say that this review has been seventeen years in the making. Honestly, the thing that makes Saburo's so distinctive, their enduring line, is the very thing that has kept me away. When you see a line in front of a place, it usually means it's good, but it also usually means a long wait. In our case, it was also a really unpleasant part of our dining experience. I expected friendly banter with the other customers waiting to dine, but Abbe and I were pushed and jostled, and when we got inside and saw how small the space was, it became a bit of a nightmare. The place was jam-packed full of people, and seemed short staffed. We were hurried to a corner and treated as though our presence was a nuisance. The décor of the restaurant was pretty awesome, with a full wall ukiyo-e style mural in the back. Unfortunately, the layout went beyond "leaves something to be desired." We were crammed into the tiniest space possible and I could literally feel the next diner over breathing on my hand they were so close. I just don't understand. The restaurant is obviously successful. If you have enough diners that you have a line of people outside every night waiting to eat there, you should consider expanding to a space where your diners can be comfortable and enjoy their company while they eat your delicious food. I did happen to think the food was delicious. Abbe and I varied wildly in our level of gustatory enjoyment, but my overall opinion of the food was very favorable. Our appetizers, miso soup and edamame, were well-prepared and arrived hot, cooked well, and liberally seasoned. The sushi and sashimi we ordered were fresh as fresh can be. The salmon sashimi was the highlight of my meal. The chunks were admittedly a bit large, but the fish was beyond fresh, with just the right amount of unctuousness, and tasted as good naked as it did with a few scant drops of soy. It was the perfect accompaniment to the fresh cucumber rolls we ordered. They were liberally stuffed with cucumber matchsticks and wrapped in a thick layer of faintly vinegary rice. They were excellent for cutting through the richness of the salmon. The Alaskan roll was ample and tasty, if not especially memorable. The spicy tuna roll, for me, was the only thing that wasn't particularly delicious. The fish was fresh and tasted good, but the spicy tuna mixture was a bit bland, and I'm being kind. It really could've used a generous dose of soy or more spice. It didn't have fabulous mouth-feel either... the spicy sauce had an almost watery texture that didn't cling to the fish very well and was unpleasant on the palette. Despite this one shortcoming, I felt the food was top-notch in quality and had obviously been prepared by someone who knows what they are doing. Will I return to Saburo's? Maybe. Like I've said before, a restaurant is a melding of food and atmosphere, and Saburo's is seriously lacking in the atmosphere department. It's also expensive. I'd expect that for the quality of the food, but the dining experience we had there was one of the worst in recent memory. I'm willing to sit in a shitty place to eat amazing food, and especially CHEAP amazing food, but there's really no excuse for the lack of service and terrible atmosphere at such a successful restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kedy S.

    For almost a decade I have been eating myself stupid here and there is great reason why, it's delicious! This is not a high end sushi restaurant, this is not Jiro dreams of sushi, this is just really delicious, huge, and affordable sushi (which explains why there is always a line). On to the review! 3 stars, So much good eating to be had here, sake-toro, negihama, hawaiian roll, crab nigiri with real crab, unagi, and more! if you're not into raw sushi, they have great cooked options like the seared sake, california rolls with real crab, the tamago is really good, and the udon's are delicious 2 stars, service, maybe it's cause I'm asian and I've eaten here for so long, but service here is alright. It's not great, it is a tiny hole in the wall, but it's not terrible either. They are quick and efficient. Pro tip for eating at this place, try to time your arrival 20 minutes before they open, or roughly in hour intervals after they open (when major waves of tables leave). Going around 8PM or after often has moderate success at avoiding lines. Get eatin'!

    (5)

  • Naomi G.

    My younger sister has been talking about this place for quite some time, and there always seems to be a line outside. So I gave it a shot this evening. It was 50/50 for me, only due to the fact that when I eat a piece of sushi I like to be able to put the whole piece of fish and rice in my mouth at once, and not try awkwardly biting and tearing a piece of octopus off a bigger piece of octopus. Long story short, the portions were unbelievably big. If you go there, you only really need to order two, two piece plates. Any more then that and you'll for sure have left overs.

    (3)

  • Alex S.

    First of all, let me say that I"m giving 2 stars purely on food quality. No, I am not butt hurt about poor service, as a matter of fact, the service was fine. No, I am not pissed that I waited 2 hours. I only waited 20 minutes and was the 3rd person in line when it opened. No, I am not a hipster who has never had decent sushi befor. I have eaten at best Michelin starred sushiyas in Tokyo as well as some of the best sushi places in the West Coast, and no, I am not trying to compare this place with Kyubei or Sushi Saito. With that in mind, here is what I found. Having seen the photos in Yelp, I already knew that this place was far from "authentic", but as I have found sushi places in Portland to be of quite poor quality compared to those in the rest of West Coast big cities, but as Saburo's was touted as one of the best in Portland, I had to give it a shot. The Joint: Very tacky decorations that is trying too hard to be Japanese, yet so so far away from authentic sushiya. This is worrisome and this confirmed that it's not ran by Japanese folks. The Chefs: There are 4 of them at the sushi bar. One Asian looking guy who did not speak Japanese, and 3 Latino dudes. Very worrisome at this point. The menu: Is it me or does it smell like cat piss? Then I found out that it was the smell of the Sharpie with which you are supposed to mark your order. You aren't supposed to order piece by piece to the sushi chef. What's the point of sitting at the sushi bar then? yep, NONE whatsoever. Part of eating sushi is enjoying the interaction with the sushi chefs. Not at this place. The service: I had no problems with it. Two Asian waitresses are definitely NOT Japanese, and one of them had a very abrupt typical Chinese accent which some may find rude. Have you had a really RUDE service at authentic Japanese restaurant? Have you had rude service at Chinese restaurant? So there's your sign if you find the service to be poor. And not really being able to interact with sushi chef...that's on another level entirely. Sushi: Well, damn.....where should I begin. Let me say upfront that if you are one of MANY yelpers who claim that this is "THE BEST SUSHI I'VE EVER HAD!"....I have bad news for you. You are utterly clueless about sushi or what it is supposed to look or taste like. You've probably never had a decent sushi before or have an inkling idea or what it is supposed to taste like. This was NOT the worst sushi I've had. But it was the most unbalanced, grotesque, and vulgar, obscene sushi I have eaten. The most important aspect of sushi is the sushi rice. I say it was 2/5. Fish was of prefrozen kind and not of the best quality but better than average. 3/5. Skill of the sushi chef who puts above two components together: 1/5, or perhaps 0/5. sushi rice was WAAAAAY too big, as well as being somewhat too mildly flavored and being overly sticky. It was also too firmly gripped and you had to chew it, which is common among novice "sushi chefs" who don't quite understand the concept of proper nigiri sushi. Fish cuts were also grotesquely oversized which made it feel like you were eating an onigiri (rice ball) slapped together with a large cut of raw fish. I would say that their sushi was about 3-4 times the volume of what a proper nigiri is supposed to be like. Folks, this is NOT what sushi is supposed to be. There is no harmonious disintegration of sushi rice inside your mouth that makes all of the ingredients come together. You have to CHEW this obscenity in fear of lodging a piece of maguro in your throat and choking to death. There is NOTHING nigiri-sushi like about this. Quantity over quality. That seems to be the motto here. This somewhat explains why this is popular among people who has never tasted real sushi before. Is it worth waiting 2 hours. Oh hell no. an hour? No F'ing way. 30 minutes? nope. I have no reason to return here. Portlandia. You can do better. You must.

    (2)

  • Greg D.

    Best flavors & selection for the price - anywhere in the PDX. The rolls come out pretty quickly, in spite of the number of people who FILL this place and they're extremely delicious and fresh. ALL their fish is fresh and the customer service is pretty awesome. You absolutely must wait in line if you want to eat. It opens at 4:30 on Saturday, we got there at 3:40 and were the 2nd table seated. Anyone who showed up at 4:25 waited an hour or more to sit and forget-about-it if you showed up at 4:30. Not sure why some folks gave less than 4 stars, haters mostly and probably don't enjoy their lives anyway. NOBODY at ANY time asked us if we needed a box or implied that we needed to rush - EVER. WE were a party of 8 and had the big table next to the front window. WE had awesome service, BUT, they did add gratuity onto our bill without telling us. So, check your bill before you pay. **Ignore the 1-star posts - they have no idea what good food or service is.

    (5)

  • Ray W.

    Fish is very very fresh. We like this place! Hope they have better system for waiting list such as texting us when table is ready.

    (4)

  • Bill M.

    It took 1hr for my party of 5 to get seated, 45min for the food to come out, and we were squished- sitting shoulder to shoulder around a tiny table-BUT, it was well worth the wait. The sushi is around the same price as any other sushi restaurant, but what makes this place special is their HUGE sushi size and fresh fish. Best sushi place I've been to in Oregon & California. Definitely stop by if you're not in a hurry, there are no reservations.

    (5)

  • Steven C.

    Saburo's is by far best value is Sushi hands down. Do they use the highest possible grade fish? No. Do they try to make a beautiful presentation? No. Is the place fancy? No. Is the service great? No. Do they give good sized, good priced, good quality servings of sushi? YES. Why do I like it? I can eat food I love, be full at the end for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. When you order, just remember 1 order at Saburo's is like 2 to 4 orders at other places (and that's why it's such a great value). To those who think they KNOW what sushi should be I offer you these responses: "Sushi is an Art" - You realize that sushi was sold on the streets/docks and not in restaurants for MANY years before it ever got "fancy" or art-like? It was one of the original forms of "fast food" "They should just forgo chopsticks" - It is perfectly NORMAL to eat sushi with your hands. "It's not authentic" - Yes and no. It is "american sized" however the flavors are right, they use the correct amount of Su (vinegar) which most places don't. "It's not good quality fish" - Some people just don't know what good IS. I have seen people complain because their maguro (tuna) wasn't bright red. They actually got a fattier/oilier (thus more flavorful, healthier and valuable) piece of fish than the lean "Akami" that they were accustomed to. Is it the best grade, most expensive fish available? Hell no, but it's not like when everyone eats steak they only eat at El Gaucho or (insert your own $50+ steak place here). Bottom line, VALUE VALUE VALUE. Pro Tip: If you go expecting to wait and expecting bad service, then you can actually relax and enjoy yourself. Took my wife's family last time I went (they are Japanese from Japan) and they enjoyed it. They had wine next door while waiting then enjoyed the american sized sushi and they had NO PROBLEMS with the taste/quality AND they ate with their hands.

    (4)

  • Ariel S.

    I love you Saburo's! I love your fresh fish, incredible prices, and ridiculously sized portions! I love the Vato looking dudes that make up a good portion of your staff! I hate your lines, but I understand why they are always there.. because you rule ! I also hate when you are closed for no reason..... I guess it makes you kindof enigmatic in a way, but mostly its annoying! Salmon belly, come to meeeeee!

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    What you can expect: 1. To wait 2. Moderately inattentive service 3. Noisy atmosphere 4. GIANT GODDAMN PIECES OF FISH Go here if you don't mind a wait, want to spend as much as you do at a fancy sushi restaurant but want to leave completely stuffed with leftovers that will make you stuffed again later. Looking for Traditional sushi, go elsewhere. Looking for a ton of food for the price, go here.

    (4)

  • JD K.

    No, not the best sushi I've ever had. Chefs were Hispanic (not hatin, just sayin) so it's not authentic. Yes, it's cheap and portion sizes are the biggest, but that don't make it good sushi. I say it's alright as in above average than your Blu Sushi or Sushiland. Service was very nice and accommodating. Get there early for parking or you'll be on the wait list.

    (1)

  • Magdalena B.

    If you come to Portland, don't forget to stop by this Sushi House. Their Sushi are big and super-duper delicious and fresh. The cut were so nice. The taste was uncomparable. So, I would recommend this to anyone! If you like hamachi , don't forget to order hamachi colar/ salmon colar. And the best fusion is big-o-roll

    (5)

  • Ken W.

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

    (4)

  • Wes Y.

    This place is amazing and that is why there is always a line. The portions are huge and the prices are reasonable. The sashimi is always fresh and great quality. It is worth the wait in line. I have been here a handful of times and I will continue coming here. It's my #1 Sushi spot in the Portland area.

    (5)

  • Thien D.

    The sushi is good, the lady here is very rude. I know they're busy but I can't get good service when the charge 15% gratuity on my bill.

    (1)

  • Thomas R.

    Sushi is super fat! I won't come here for anything else beside sushi. What you think, you can eat, cut that order in half.

    (4)

  • Nathan B.

    The salmon belly, oh the salmon belly. The other sushi is good too, usually quite fresh and larger than normal portion sizes. The wait is always long and the dinning area is crowded, so come prepared (there are good places to sit and have a drink just down the block, or the nearby neighborhood is cute and a pleasant place for a little walk).

    (4)

  • DJ Z.

    The sushi here is great. The portions are big, the prices are reasonable and the quality is high. The staff, however, couldn't care less about service. It's basically a situation where they're so busy, nobody HAS to care. People line up outside this restaurant for 30-60 minutes before they open and once they get inside they get no attention. I'm just going to start ordering my sushi to go.

    (3)

  • larry h.

    We come here every time we visit Portland - but apparently so does everyone else - be prepared for for a line that wraps around the building! On Saturdays it opens at 4.30pm. We looked at the waiting list - and [eople began waiting at 4.35pm!!! We arrived at 5.11pm and wrote our names on the clipboard that they post outside the door. We rejoiced as they called our names at 7.15pm for our party of 5. (During our wait, we visited the QFC around the corner and the Starbucks which is kitty corner to Saburos). However, when the food came - it was all worth it. Portions are large - one of my friends commented by saying the unagi looked like baby eels instead of slices of eel, it was that big. The gf and I ordered a california roll, hawaiian roll (which is wrapped in cucumber), karate roll, and tuna roll which was more than enough since we had leftovers (and spent less than $30) So let's do the Saburo math: HUGE portions + good prices = llloooongggg lines. PS: Not a place I'd bring a large group

    (5)

  • LaQueanya H.

    Not impressed definitely had better. Not a sushi aficionado, but big chunks of imitation crab meat in my sushi is not great!

    (2)

  • Olivia T.

    SUSHI! Giant SUSHI! Saburo's sushi is good and affordable, but be prepare to wait for at least one hour if you came after they are open. To avoid the wait, you can wait before they are open at 5 pm. If you got there at 5 or after 5, you will need to wait. That's what usually happen to me. I always thought I got there earlier, but seems like other people got there way before I did. Salmon skin salad is my favorite appetizer there...crunchy salmon skin...yum.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    Get here EARLY because you will wait. Fatty salmon was my favorite... and the veggie roll. Service was quick!

    (4)

  • Q M.

    Heed all these poor reviews: this place is utter garbage. Awful wait staff and subpar sushi. I'm so tired of all these hyped up restaurants that are actually just junk. Everything that needs to be said has already been said in recent reviews, read them.

    (1)

  • Sudipto G.

    Wow.. really huge portions of sushi made it really difficult to eat with chopsticks. I'm not a sushi connesieir by any stretch of imagination but the sushi here was pretty good. Had the Mt. Hood roll which was crispy and tasty as well as the dragon roll which was extremely flavorful. But the highlight of the meal was the salmon teriyaki.. havent had such tender juicy well cooked salmon in ages.

    (4)

  • Lou L.

    Great sushi!! Large servings I've ever seen, very very fresh!!! Perfect!!! Tasty, reasonably priced!!! They need one in Hawaii!! Best sushi place ever! Come here on very Portland trip. Because its so reasonable, there's always a long line. So go early.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Small spaces, decor needs updating, but food was quite good. My friend and I stopped by here around 8PM on a Sunday evening. She knew my love for value and indicated that I absolutely had to try out this place because their nigiri's fresh and double or triple the size of other restaurants. I initially read about how long the wait was but we were seated within half an hour. Dim fluorescent lighting and a small, packed dining area with a large wall mural greeted us. We had orders of the yellow tail nigiri, salmon belly nigiri, unagi special roll, and a salmon roll. There are a few things on the menu which they'll never have, such as the toro-perhaps we have to go earlier, but my friend noted that they never seem to have it. As most have stated, the food portions are huge (large pieces of fish) and well-plated. The fish was fresh and at the proper temperature- not too cold or not too warm. Service was also good with the waitress checking up on us a few times throughout the meal, giving us a massive bowl of ginger when we requested a little more, and even offering to get us fresh wasabi once we boxed the leftovers. Overall, a good value and a pleasant dining experience out!

    (4)

  • Allen K.

    The photos of the sushi posted here really don't do it justice.You just can't appreciate the sheer SIZE of the sushi until it's right there in front of you. Saburo's goes against all convention and offers huge slices of fish and giant rolls while keeping their prices cheaper than most sushi restaurants out there. It's easy to get carried away with ordering because of the low prices, but at least you get to go home with tons of leftovers. Just look at my picture :) I would rate this place a 5, but I've reserved that for the best sushi I've ever tasted in Seattle at Umi

    (4)

  • Mars V.

    Super fresh and absolutely massive sushi. A great value given the fish to dollar ratio. Friendly staff who have worked there for years. Be in line at least 40 minutes before they open if you want to make the first wave, otherwise be prepared to wait. Recommended: The fatty Salmon belly is buttery delicious. The Hamachi is tender and buttery. The Hawaiian Roll- spicy tuna in a cucumber shell. The Tempura Udon Soup- like a Japanese version of French Onion Soup. Ask for the tempura on the side so it doesn't get soggy.

    (5)

  • Yan L.

    Poor quality sushi all round. The rolls we ordered just didn't taste good. Also got a yakisoba which was way too salty. The only thing redeeming about this place is that the portions are huge for the price you pay. Never could understand why this place has lines going out the door all the time. The interior and bathrooms are also rather dingy.

    (1)

  • Dianna C.

    I felt this place was hyped up too much as the best sushi in Portland. The sushi quality and style is similar to the rolls from Sansai's on 23rd, but just bigger. In terms of eating the best quality and sushi creativeness for real foodies, nothing can beat Bamboo sushi.

    (3)

  • Jimmy H.

    I'm a fan of big. In fact, there are parts of me that I wish were a lot bigger. However, the gigormous size of the sushi here is a bit over the top. No, actually, it's way over the top. Each piece is literally the size of two normal sized sushi any where else. My parents took me here last week and they warned me about the portion size. I quickly dismissed their concern and proceeded to order 18 nigiri servings for the three of us. Big mistake. Pun totally intended. My Mom was one hamachi away from being very un-ladylike in the bathroom by the end of the meal. Don't get me wrong, the sushi is not bad. The size just diminishes the experience. And the price is pretty dang cheap. Maybe I'm just use to Cali prices but 5 bucks for toro seems insane. Of course, they ran out and I didn't get to eat any so maybe it's just a scam. How the hell do you run out at 6pm on a Wednesday? Ok that pissed me off enough thinking about it that I just lowered my rating from 4 to 3 stars. Another ding: the service. The one lady there is nice, but all the fellas working there need to chill with their attitude. Smile once in a while motherf*ckers. I'm sure you get to eat plenty of free sushi. Will I go back? Sure. They better not run out of toro.

    (3)

  • Pui S.

    Big pieces of sushi - TOO BIG!!! You will have to cut it in half (I hate doing that)! :( Long wait for a hype up place! Taste bland. Flat coke. We over ordered it because we were way too hungry! Nothing much about it but no-taste large sushi gimmick! Blah!!!

    (1)

  • Jeff S.

    Let me preface this review a little bit. I'm not a sushi snob, but I've also been fortunate to have been to some very very amazing sushi establishments. While Saburo's isn't terrible, by no means can I comprehend why there is a 2 hour wait, nor what the hype is. Perhaps it is because Portland doesn't have a sushi joint every other block as it seems like in Southern California, but I was disappointed. There is a 2 hour wait. The portions are insanely large. Yes the sushi is the size of a small cell phone. The thick cut of fish is generous. The prices are actually very reasonable for what you are ordering. However, sushi isn't about a thick slab of fish on top of a fist size of rice. It's like eating spam musubi, but instead of spam you have a slab of raw salmon. Plus I almost feel like you are losing the texture and taste of the fish by simply cleaving out the largest chunk of sashimi you can have. Anyone can cut large chunks of sliced sashimi from a slab of fish, real talent is cutting the right thin amount... The rolls however were pretty amazing. Nothing bad about those.

    (3)

  • Tahnee S.

    Everyone thinks this place is great because the portions are big, but the low quality fish is not worth it. Also the service is terrible...rude servers, especially if you go alone. Even though I was next on the wait list to be seated, they refused to seat me because I was alone when two seats opened up at the sushi bar...and they unapologetically passed me over on the list over and over again. They then explained that they wanted to fill every seat at the bar. Rude and greedy! No other sushi bar has ever done that to me when dining alone.

    (1)

  • Pingle I.

    The sushi is delectable and tasty, and are portioned nicely. Despite the great flavors of the sushi, the lines are incredibly long and ordering is a hassle.

    (3)

  • Steve H.

    These people are barbarians. Savages. Uncouth. Yabanjin. And yet I know people who rave about this place. And there are often lines out the door. I really just don't get it--at all. In Japan it takes years of training to become a sushi chef. After five years of training with a master itamae, they are finally allowed to cook the sushi rice--prepared according to strict and exacting instructions. Once this is task is mastered, the apprentice is promoted to wakiita, an apprentice to a senior itamae who prepares sushi ingredients (slicing vegetables, grating ginger, cutting blocks of fish for sushi preparation) and eventually begins making his first nagirizushi (hand formed sushi) with artistic precision and skill. The results are exquisite works of edible art that one eagerly devours either whole or in two blissful bites. Admittedly that training regime seems a bit extreme. I mean five years to cook rice? I'm fine with sushi chefs who've abbreviated this culinary education, and I expect that the vast majority of American sushi chefs have done just that. Saburo's, however, has nothing to do with this tradition whatsoever. One gets the impression--and I am basing this assumption solely on the quality and appearance of the final product--that at Saburo's the apprentice, a ham-fisted giant who was hired earlier that same day, is trained in the art of Norse battle axe and ice cream scoop by some stoned hippie over the course of 20 minutes before he is let loose in the kitchen to prepare California rolls the diameter of a spare automobile tire. A typical bit of nagiri sushi at Saburo's is a tiger-snack sized chunk of tuna, roughly the size of a deck of cards, draped like a dead gazelle over a wad of sticky rice roughly the size of an oblong baseball. A machete and fork is not provided to tame this monolith of pescene muscle and carb bomb, leaving the diner to hoist the fish-baby to his or her mouth and gnaw off 1/8 of the mass in a grotesque, date-ending, cheek-puffing mouthful. The teeth of homo sapiens sapiens are ill suited for masticating raw flesh effectively, so typically the 1/4 pound of rice crumbles into the diner' lap as he or she struggles to gnaw off a bite like some desperate hyena tearing a sinewy strip of flesh off of a zebra corpse. This is not what sushi is supposed to be. This is, quite simply, not sushi.

    (2)

  • Jenny H.

    Bleh I really didn't like the food here. I came here Sunday around 6PM and was surprised to see a long line. Last time I tried to go to Saburo's I thought the wait was too long and had left. This time I toughed it out and waited about an hr or so. I ordered a few nigiri and rolls including salmon, unagi, anago, kani, spider roll, and spicy tuna roll. Everything came out looking very pretty and insanely big but too bad they didn't taste that great. One big complaint was I felt their flavoring was on the sweet side starting from their rice. I couldn't really stomach the unagi and anago because the sauce was super sweet on top of the already too sweet rice. My second complaint is the rolls are too big and fall apart as you try to eat them. I prefer my sushi more dainty and well made instead of large slabs to feed giants.

    (2)

  • Thao Trang H.

    Hey everyone!! Last night, I had the best sushi of my life right here in Portland, OR at a place called Saburo's!!! I have attached images of the ENORMOUS pieces if sushi that one has to see it for themselves to believe!! Each roll was the size of at least 4 rolls packed into one!! The nigiri was always a half an inch thick and more than half as long as your chopsticks!! We started off with some steamed ginger garlic myself, which had a very flavorful sauce! Next came the Philly and salmon tempura rolls dipped in a delicious ponzu sauce! The tuna in the Philly was scrumptious! Afterwards, we had huge creamy scallops, huge maguro tuna, huge Hawaiian roll that had the freshest tuna ever, the most amazing toro sake (fatty salmon), and the biggest dragon roll I have ever laid my eyes upon!! Also, you're only supposed to order once at the start, bit they were very nice when we wanted a few more pieces of Unagi (eel) and fatty salmon. And the sake was pretty good too. I had a really creamy and smooth unfiltered sake. The warm sake warmed us up after waiting in the cold for nearly an hour! The images really don't do any justice, so I hope that the next time you all are in the area, you'll come try this place with me!! What is even better is that the prices are dirt cheap!!! The 2 piece fatty salmon nigiri that was 2/3 the size of my chopsticks was only $4!! The only downside is that you end up waiting an hour or so outside because of how small the venue is. Please come try Saburo's sometime with me!!! :-), you won't regret it!! Sincerely, Thao-Trang

    (5)

  • Asian F.

    Service is below worse. The food is OK, it is accurate to say the portion is huge but they increased their prices. The rice and the raw fish is not proportional. The place is tiny, long wait, dirty dishes and the staff is plain rude. We have few companies from Texas so I felt like I had to take them to try out this place. They put a little chair at the end of the table and expected my guest to sit on it. Please be warned they charge you 15% service charge for any party for 5 or more. Also, they charge you for extra wasabi and ginger. They have so many wait stuff but no service whatsoever, at one point I noticed they were even playing with their iPhone. Then charged us 15% service for 0 service and we corrected them that 2 sushi rolls we ordered did not make it to our table. If you do not pay attention to your bill, you can be easily overcharged. They are very sneaky. I will never go back, there are tons of nice Japanese restaurant offer good sushi and do not treat you like you are prisoners.

    (1)

  • Claudia R.

    Yummmm. Saburos. This is a great place. Great fish and a huge variety of options. The rolls are, in my opinion, too large. It throws off the ratio of fish to rice and makes it impossible to eat a whole piece in one bite.

    (3)

  • Brian G.

    HOLY MOTHER OF ALL SUSHI PORTIONS! I can't make a trip with my partner to Portland without eating at Saburo's. I'm not a big sushi eater at all, but he is and this place satisfies his every sushi craving (often for more than one meal because he always over-orders.) I'm satisfied by a piece here and there and eating off the appetizer and soup menu while watching those around me eat themselves into a raw fish coma. The portions are HUGE. Like, Giants in the sky huge. As everyone else has mentioned -- get there early or expect to wait. The dining area is small and the lines are often long -- thankfully, there is now a wine bar next door to get good and sauced at while waiting.

    (5)

  • Wes B.

    The common misconception many people have is that this is a traditional sushi restaurant. It is far from it. The over-sized pieces and fusion style rolls make this obvious. To date, over the past 24 months, I've been to Saburo's about ten times. I have yet to have a bad experience. I am a sushi connoisseur. But unlike many people who claim this title, I am not obsessed with traditional sushi. I enjoy the American take on sushi just as much as I enjoy traditional style sushi and sashimi. I've eaten at trash buffets, and I've eaten at places so traditional they refuse to serve California rolls. I am a snob about freshness, and in my ten visits to Saburo's over the years, I've only questioned the freshness of a single order of Halibut once. In order to keep the prices down, the small restaurant is packed, and it is generally expected that you get your order together soon after being seated. They take this a little to far, which is the only reason I'm marking them down a star. They have odd rules like not being able to order to go after you are done with your meal (if you have someone at home, you better include what you want with the original order, and be okay with it sitting there). Maximum of two order-splits per table (try this with a party of 6!) and a few other quirks, but it's all sidelined by the amazing food and value. Oh, and the painting in the back is AMAZING. Definitely try Saburros, its worth the wait!!

    (4)

  • Don B.

    Saburos is odd - most people love it when they first try it, and as they go back more and more, it gets less and less appealing. That said, Saburos has gone way downhill from what it once was. In theory, it is sushi because it is raw fish on rice, but otherwise, it is far from real sushi. The cuts are too big. All of the artistry of sushi (yes, there is a lot of artistry to real, good sushi) is missing here. The fish is standard quality. I liked the value the first few times I went, but hated the wait (HATED it). My wife used to drag me here time after time because she likes the Hawaiian rolls and because it's cheap. I don't like their rolls at all - too big, you can't get one whole piece in your mouth in one bite. Sushi is supposed to be delicate and cut with love, not basically a salmon fillet laying atop a hill of rice. This is good for your value... but you could go to Todai and get even more for your value buffet-sushi style (if you want to gorge), and the quality is about on par. Do yourself a favor, save your money and go pay to enjoy some real sushi as it is meant to be enjoyed. Bask in the glory of a perfectly cut piece of incredibly fresh fish, ever so carefully placed atop a double-pinch of rice - a sushi piece you can fit in your mouth in one bite, as it is supposed to be eaten. If you have a craving for large volumes of hacked up discount fish served up after an hour+ wait in a crammed yet fun atmosphere, then Saburos is your place. I have eaten here more times than I care to remember (and usually at the behest of someone else), but long ago I did what Laura has so aptly suggested - I decided how much my time was worth. So doing, I chose to respect both my time and my taste-buds, and have not been back since.

    (2)

  • Michael D.

    Long ass wait. No matter what time you go, its gonna be at least 45 minutes until you can sit down and order. When my brother said the sushi here was bomb, i was a little skeptical. I mean, sushi in oregon? i dunno about that one man. Anyway, we came here and i ordered 3 rolls and 6 pieces of nigiri, but then my brother stopped me right there and told me that that was enough food for the both of us. I thought he was insane. 3 rolls and a few pieces of nigiri for two people? We're gonna starve! He was right. the rolls were HUGE. Sure, they had a lot of rice in them, but you can't complain if theres a lot of fish in them too! and the nigiri. oh em gee. Each piece had like a SLAB of fish on it. No kidding, there was probably 3 times as much fish as there were rice. The pictures on yelp do no justice. The eel pieces are seriously half as long as my arm. The rolls were decent, but I'd come here for the nigiri. So much fish for so little.

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    I like this sushi place. The sushi was huge and pretty good. We had a big group - 12 people but when the final bill came up, we only had to pay around$15 per person! our table ordered 6 rolls and i was amazed that we cleaned everything up! nothing was left on our plates and we were happy. the staff are friendly and the service is quick. The only drawback: LONG lines! we had to wait roughly 1 hour for this. If you come in early around 5 pm (when they just opened), the line wouldn't be as long as around 6 pm-ish... I'd be back but just thinking about the lines made me shiver..

    (4)

  • Soo L.

    We went on a Wednesday night around 730pm and the sign posted said the wait would be from 15-20 minutes. We ended up waiting about an hour. Around 20 minutes into our wait one the servers came out and announced their system was down and wouldn't be able to take credit cards. At this point there were several tables empty and no one new was being seated. I get that things were slowing down because of their system and having to do thing manually but it was a little frustrating for he minutes to tick by and not getting any closer to the front of the line. At one point we asked two different servers if we could do take out. One ignored us and the other one said no. Haha. We decided to wait it out and once we sat the service got a little better. The sushi was great. Spicy Tuna was awesome as was the seared salmon. The soft shell crab app was good as well. I think the sushi is worth the frantic and negligent service but I would go Right at opening or later into the night.

    (3)

  • Ashley B.

    I enjoy coming here whenever I'm in Portland. Yes, the wait times are long...at least an hour or two. Just plan for it, you can check out the shops or get a drink at one of the many bars around there. Food is great. Big rolls with good flavor. Service just gets the job done but isn't rude. I always leave happy and stuffed. Had spicy tuna roll, unagi roll, tempura vegetable roll. It was amazing. Two people can get painfully full for less than $30. You should try it.

    (5)

  • Shauna F.

    As a fan of sashimi...O.M.G. THIS PLACE RULES...seriously, this is my favorite sushi restaurant ever just because of the massive servings of sashimi

    (5)

  • Julianna D.

    What??? People are crazy for their low ratings! I've lived all over the coast from Mexico to Washington so I know my fish. This is pretty excellent sushi. So what if they are sushi nazis? They have a huge line of costumes so yeah they will try to rush you out the door! But guess what?! It's so freaking worth it!!! BEST SUSHI EVER. Haters gonna hate. I go for the fish not to be treated like royalty.

    (5)

  • Allison C.

    the wait just goes on and on until you're finally seated. the portions tremendous and delicious, we always over order. the staff fairly friendly and attentive. eat here, you won't regret it.

    (4)

  • Sara Q.

    pretty sure this place might have the best sushi in all of pdx. they have ginormous rolls and hand rolls. we had everything from the spicy tuna (salad, rolls and hand roll) to mini fried octopuses then a massive plate of LARGE salmon bellies to buddakan rolls and real crab california rolls. there was definitely more but by golly how would i remember it all from everything we ordered? i posted pictures so definitely take a look. everything was super fresh and tasted amazing. i wish they would have given us more ginger and wasabi without having to ask for it considering all the food we ordered. great place to dine, but note to self: arrive early! we arrived 15 minutes before opening and was one of the last groups to get a spot before having to wait on the waiting list. people are nuts about this place.

    (5)

  • Mike K.

    Hahah some of the negative reviews here crack me up. Sushi snobs (even those who aren't self aware) there are plenty of sushi places for you, and for that matter for me, when I feel like the "sushi experience". By the way, sushi is the rice, so there isn't a damn thing wrong with vegetarian sushi (except that for every animal you vegans don't eat, I've got to eat two!). When I feel like sucking back a couple of beers and eating a pile of poke, I'm going to Saburo you snobs,and you know what? I usually prefer it to the pomp and BS around overpriced stuff. Probably because of people like you. 5 stars? Yeah. Find a better place for what Saburo does in Portland. Their niche, near as I can tell, is filling you up with good sushi on the cheap and they excel at it, while feeding those who might not be into traditional sushi some tasty fried stuff so they can come along for the ride. Talk to one of the servers about sake- they have some really nice ones, trust them and let them bring you a bottle to try. The only embarassment connected with Saburo is that some people have to smugly rain on other peoples' parades because they'd rather act like they know something the rest of us don't. Gee, really? There are fancier sushi places with smaller sushi and higher prices? Thanks, cap'n obvious.

    (5)

  • Diana R.

    BIGGEST PIECES OF SUSHI I'VE EVER SEEN.. even outside San Francisco's Japantown.. they've got nothing on Saburo's!! I had an Alaska roll, spicy tuna, fried tofu (pass on that one, only reason for -1 star) and salmon skin roll.. AMAZINGGGG... dinner for 4 with plenty to take home for 52$. not cheap but not overly pricey either for quality AND quantity we experienced.. I'll FOR SURE come back next time I'm in portland!! =D

    (4)

  • Ryohei A.

    OK, let me put these into yelper's perspective... When I went into Saburo's it was 5 years ago when I used to live in the Sellwood neighborhood. It was great sushi. The fish was fresh and quality are very good for the price. I understood why this place was popular. Fast forward 4 years. I went back in several more times and each and every time the food has gotten worse. It wasn't as fresh as before and portion got smaller and smaller. For place like Saburo' if you start giving smaller portions you are slowly shredding yourself. This is because they were famous for their big portions. Now I understand that fish, rice, and flour prices went SKY ROCKET past 3 years.(For those who don't know, this has been EXTREMELY difficult times for any restaurants, but especially the sushi joints) To say the fish is overpriced...well it is, but you will be surprised how expensive the good quality fish would be, especially with Yen being historically high last few months.(Assuming that sushi joints are ordering traditional fish from Japan ie. Horse Mackerel, Red Snapper, Japanese Saury pike, Flat fishes...) I personally find this joint unique, but I would not say this is "great sushi." Sushi "traditionally" supposed to be all in one bite to enjoy various flavors while the fluffy vinegar rice compliments the fish on top. Wasabi kills the germ while adding that taste and heat, and ginger cleans your palete. Now this wouldn't be a "traditional" joints and they are not going for that so this wouldn't be fair comparison. However, then what are they trying to do? Just impress the customers with BIG serving which contradicts the meaning of the sushi itself? In that sense they are just smearing dirt on the Japanese culture of sushi, and sort of disrespecting the city of Portland by thinking that vast majority of you guys will be happy to see BIG raw fish in front of you regardless of the quality(Albeit making sure it is decent/edible) That's completely cool but the portions will be smaller and smaller, trust me on this as prices are not getting cheaper on supplies. You might not notice this, but there are supplies being cut somewhere. I am not here to hate on here but I am not impressed with their sushi. Service is mediocre to a little decent and only the hype is huge. With that said though, the value is still decent here, and we don't mind coming back here on and off though we moved away from this neighborhood. I just don't understand people who who give this 5 stars. There are no 5 star sushi restaurant here in the city of Portland in my book. You all can disagree with me but I've had awsome sushi every year in Japan and unless you go to LA or New York it is really hard to find a "real" sushi here. I don't want to find real sushi here. Because it is either: 1. Imitators, or 2. Expensive Don't get me wrong, I still go to some sushi joints here but I don't think this hard when I am going there. I don't mind the sushi go-arounds and few joints here and there but I don't think of them as real sushi. It is good for what it is, and I am happy with what I eat. Some of you will completely disagree, and I'm totally cool. This joint is fine and you should enjoy this joint, especially if you are regular. But for those who understands what I am trying to say, you can take my words with grain of salt....I hope. But hey who am I to say all these nonsense BS right...?

    (2)

  • Brandi H.

    I dream about Saburo's sushi. I'm not a big raw fish gal. I'm not even a big sushi gal. I am a big Saburo's gal though! They definitely have the best bang for your buck. I'm from Hawaii where sushi is good/expensive and when my parents come visit, this is the first place they want to go. Every time I go, I send them pictures to make them jealous. I always over-order and have never left without leftovers. This may not be the traditional one-bite sushi but who cares, it's good! Where else can you get $10 of sushi and be full?! Nowhere. Saburo's is always a special treat for me. Plan on being there at 4:30 and you will get in on the first round. Bring a book or friends to talk to or bejeweled. Things I always get: spicy tuna salad, age dashi dofu, real crab cali rolls ($4.95), sabu roll (a rainbow roll - 6pc/$6.50), tamago, inari and then the bf gets all the fishy fish sushi. Everyone seems to love the unagi, which is the length of a chopstick and only $4 for 2 pcs. Saburo's is da bomb!

    (5)

  • Evan B.

    The best value for your money as far a sushi is concerned. The fish tastes clean and fresh. I tend to stay away from the huge specialty rolls, which can be good, because they are so awkward to eat. Three rolls per person max, unless you want to take a lot of sushi home (its never as good as fresh). There is a reason you have to wait for this one. I know some sushi purists out there are bashing this place for being Americanized and inauthentic, and they may be right, but to be honest I don't care. California rolls are inauthentic, but they are also delicious so whats the difference. I love the food. I have been there more than ten times and have not been disappointed once. I put my name in and go to Kay's bar for a drink or two, just a suggestion.

    (5)

  • Hilary T.

    I was a regular here when I lived in the neighborhood and always brought people visiting from out of town. Saburos is a great little restaurant with a wide selection of sushi and Japanese food. The people who work here are really friendly and the service is very prompt, once you sit down. They don't take reservations and they get very busy so I recommend getting there early. I'm not a huge fan of all their rolls, but their avocado/cucumber roll is great for the price and their spicy tuna is to die for. Be warned, the rolls are huge so be prepared to eat!

    (4)

  • Janine S.

    Do you like sushi? I absolutely love sushi! From the fresh sashimi bowls of japan to fake Americanized rolls in Idaho, I've had the all. Saburos offers a great balance of both styles, and even though it leans slightly toward the fake Americanized side, you can't blame them for the speed, taste, and price of their sushis. I've been there 4 times now, and each time i find something new on the menu to like. Downsides are the loooong wait times at the normal dinner hours, if you come on a friday or weekend night be prepared to sign your name on a list and go home to take a nap. Come back an hour later and you will feel so proud when wading through the masses of jealous eyes staring at you as the "waiter" calls your name and random people wanting to befriend you so they can get in.

    (4)

  • Ellen L.

    The rolls are huge, but when it comes to taste, I've had fresher. Still, you can't beat the value, size, and options.

    (4)

  • Kenny P.

    I really like it here. Usually what i ordered: 1. Big O Roll - kind of fried sushi with spicy fish in the middle. The dipping just make it more delicious 2. Rainbow Roll - Not in the menu but you can order it. They come in huge and generous topping. 3. Agedashi Tofu - not the best but i think this one is decent taste 4. Unagi - They have a really fresh unagi. Not fishy and the sauce is just great. Unlike other sushi restaurant that give you a tear drop of unagi sauce 5. Spicy Tuna Salad - This is exceptionally delicious.. Love it 6. Salmon skin Salad - I love this one too.. you have to try it. The tuna is crisp and the dressing match everything inside it Some people might not like it because of the size of the sushi. But me and almost all of my friends love it. Not because they are big, but they are fresh. Well, if my words not really count, you can try to see the line. Never ever one day, the line is easy. You always have to stand at least 30 minutes (and this is considered lucky, sometimes even 2 hours). The queuing speaks for itself :) The only thing that i really hate is the waiting line and the parking.

    (4)

  • fon z.

    If you think you are a sushi snob you might not like this place, due to its unorthodox size. Traditionally, sushi pieces are made to a bite size, but Saburo's sushi will take 3 bites to finish each piece even if you have an abnormal sized mouth. Having said that, I love this place. To me good sushi isnt defined by the size but by the quality of the fish. Saburo does not shy from this. Every Uni I have ever had at saburo's is fresh and delicious (it's easier to taste unfresh uni than fish). I cant even say that about Sushi Restaurants I've paid more than $100 pp. The food carries authenticity with a creative spin that results in feeding your appetite and craving for more. It is one of the few sushi restaurants in Portland that has a regular following of Japanese people. That says a whole lot more than any other American critic could say about this place. The downside is the wait. 1+ hour wait is not uncommon. Bring your entertainment of choice (friends, book, ipod), and your appetite, and prepare to be satisfied.

    (4)

  • Laura N.

    I first reflect upon some eerily foreshadowing lyrics: Down here all the fish is happy As off through the waves they roll The fish on the land ain't happy They sad 'cause they in the bowl And in the case of Saburo's the bowl is OVERFLOWING with sashimi that could be mistaken in size for a decent cut of steak. While in theory this sounds pretty good, especially for the price, the allure of this Japanese delicacy plummets when you awkwardly learn that there is nothing delicate about shoving a raw fish the size of a brick in your mouth. And the wait? I mean...folks...this is a moment when you must reflect on how much your time is worth. Waiting for cheap ginormous sushi might be right up your alley. If so, then unhinge your jaw and go at it. Call me a guppie, but I would rather pay the same price for sushi that is less intimidating, that I can eat right away, and that I'm not worried about reincarnating in my stomach with a vengeance.

    (3)

  • Magicka M.

    The fish is Absolutely fresh, No Doubt!! The size of the sushi is huge! It can be a good thing or a bad thing. I personally prefer that the whole sushi can be consumed all together at once because each flavor of the sushi need to mix inside your mouth to create one fabulous taste. It was still good regardless, but I felt that I wasn't getting the full experience of sushi. On the other hand the fish pieces on the nigiri and the the poke were VERY generously sized (not to forget that they were very fresh), which I was very much satisfied with. We arrived about 5:30pm and didn't seem to wait that long at all. It was about 20 minutes for us, but then again we were only 2 people and we were expecting to wait as well so we came prepared (or at least ready to wait even longer). Service was decent as well. They kept refilling our waters. We each ordered 4 different things off of the menu (8 total) and had a good amount of left overs to take home. Together we spent 50.00 including the tip (42 before tip). We could have spent less, but we did prefer a variety which had us choosing more items. Because the sushi is humongous we could have easily spent about 10-$15 and still mange to leave happily stuffed. The only slight other problem is that this place is pretty small and since a lot of people like it, it does get a bit crowded. Definitely worth a try :)

    (4)

  • Mark R.

    Sashimi was pretty good. Didn't order any of their infamous giant rolls. Because we didn't have time... Service was terrible. Was told we had to order EVERYTHING NOW or else it will take 45m-1hr. Then received our bill with empty drinks and full plates. Ended up giving the cooks more of a tip then the waiter...I mean, if that guy that brought us two beers and a check was really our waiter. Kind of coming to expect this in Portland...everywhere I go...sad.

    (3)

  • Kristen M.

    I grew up on sushi and this place is a solid 2.5 stars. Sorry for all you fans of Saburo's but I honestly didn't think my fish was that fresh. It was almost room temperature....... I like my fish sushi grade - cold and fresh. I totally agree with Don B how it is a "must try and as they do go back more and more, it gets less and less appealing". Expect to wait 1-2 hours for a table. Parking is on the street in the nearby neighborhoods because their parking lot is full and small. The only perks to this place is that the prices are cheap and you get giant pieces of sushi. For those who don't like to eat raw fish, they do have a laundry list of other Japanese dishes to choose from. The place is tiny and can get a little cramped for your style. So if this isn't for you and you're a bit claustrophobic. I wouldn't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Harold O.

    Great lil compact environment with sushi that's definitely a bargain for your money! Sushi tastes great too.

    (4)

  • J S.

    By far, the best sushi I have ever had. There is usually a wait. Get there at first seating if you can.

    (5)

  • Mitch A.

    You get a lot because they use a second rate fish. Next time you order salmon belly, salmon or tuna look to see if there are cut marks in it.

    (2)

  • Reed C.

    In my humble opinion, this is by far the best sushi (for both taste and price) in Portland. You really can't go wrong with the menu. Their specials are simple, fresh, and delicious. Their rolls are creative, colorful and so freaking good. Never before have a had a hand roll so generous, where the fish went all the way through to the end. Excellent. As you might imagine, if you want to eat at Saburo on the weekend, get in line. And I mean 30 minutes before they open at 4:30pm. We were told by someone ahead of us that if you're standing ahead of the power meter that's on the wall in the parking lot where the line forms, you're good to go. If you can't get there early and you have to wait, dress warmly in the fall/winter, and bring your hacky sac/good conversation/favorite smartphone app.... it's totally worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Jeff L.

    Huge portions. Awesome!

    (4)

  • Jasmine L.

    It's a five-star restaurant, no doubt. No fancy interior, no friendly service, no short wait for a table, but their sushi is incredible in size, price, variety, quantity and taste. See! 5 stars for each qualifier! And for the four days I visited Portland... they were CLOSED!!!! Make sure you call in advance to see if they will be open for business. Apparently, they close for two weeks in the summer (well deserved, I s'pose), and it so darn happened to be the weekend that I was there! BOO HOO.

    (5)

  • J C.

    This is a favorite haunt for my friends and I. They still draw a crowd. Yes the wait is obscene...over an hour easily. Yes, they continue to serve steak size pieces of raw fish. You will get your money's worth here. Don't expect great service. They can be nice but when its really crowded, they are ready to move you on out when you are done. To go is not always available. Reservations? You wish! You need to send someone there to sign on the list to get attention.

    (4)

  • E F.

    everything that needs to be said about saburo's has been done so in previous reviews. the less than stellar reviews say that this place's sushi isnt as intricate and delicate as sushi should be and that its too big. the 5 star reviews say that the fish is fresh and the portions are big. i agree that theres definitely better "crafted" sushi out there but for the price and the sizes of their sushi, this place definitely earns a 5 star IMHO. i would definitely go back. in fact i plan on going again on saturday even though i just had saburo's for the first time last night.

    (5)

  • rice r.

    Not bad sushi for this price. The quality = the price that you paid for. No surprise..if you are a real sushi lover, you might be a little disappointed. I wouldn't go there again as the wait time is just ridiculously long.

    (3)

  • katie g.

    So I'm a vegetarian. But that doesn't mean that I don't LOVE sushi. I always hear a lot of hype about this place. My boyfriend and I went on Saturday ready to brave the long waits and be rewarded with delicious sushi. The wait wasn't as long as I expected (about 45 min) and the service was pretty fast. I ordered an avocado roll, a cucumber roll and the veggi roll. My boyfriend ordered some Tuna sashimi and two rolls. When our food came, I was astounded. The rolls were the size of large cucumbers. The sashimi was several inches thick. There was no way to put a single piece of the sushi in my mouth....and i have a big mouth. So we proceeded to try and stuff the pieces in our mouth. There was rice and fish and avocado falling everywhere. Thank god we weren't on a first date. My boyfriend said that the fish was decent, although the BBQ eel was dry and really fishy. Overall, it was okay. Don't go here when you want to impress someone with your delicate eating skills. Don't order more than two rolls, you won't finish them. And when you are ready for more authentic sushi, go to Mio's.

    (2)

  • Danika H.

    They serve a good cut of fish, but I really only come here because it's the closest sushi place to me that serves Uni. Unfortunately, the last three times I have been there they were out of Uni and they didn't say anything until they had put in the rest of my order. I would have gone somewhere else that had Uni available! They might as well take it off the menu. The "servers" are like army sergeants, you must order fast and no questions because they really don't give a crap.

    (3)

  • Becky L.

    It's been a while since I've returned and boy has the atmosphere changed. I'm not sure whether it's because I came here with a group of 10 (brother's birthday) or because it was a Saturday night, but it was simply just chaos. It was quite silly of my brother to have a birthday dinner of ten at such a small establishment, but the staff made it work. They initially started out helpful and accommodating, but it just went downhill from there. Some party members still weren't present and you can only order all together or not at all because they only take your order once. The food was ginormous and delicious. I could eat the steroid-looking salmon nigiri all day, errryday! You get what you pay for as the sushi pieces are larger than anywhere I've been to in town. Service is just horrific. The Asian lady with glasses had a very passive aggressive tone the entire visit and as we left, thanking and appreciating her help for dealing with a large table, all she said was, "Okay, bye. Okay, bye." So unpleasant and unnecessary! If you can tolerate below average service, but exceptional food, it's worth a visit!

    (2)

  • Kristina I.

    Nope. Never again. Long wait, lies about machines being down (cash only) to avoid transaction fees, mandatory gratuity, changing extra for condiments, RUDE service, ugly presentation. None of this is worth the extra large portions. We're moving out of the neighborhood and I, for one, won't be missing this place.

    (1)

  • Johnson T.

    Quantity over quality. I haven't been to very many sushi places in Portland but next time I'm in the area I'll probably try elsewhere. I've eaten at Saburos three times now and each time has been a different experience. They do charge you 15% regardless of your party size. Also, they only limit you to one order which blows. The place is a bit small and the tables are squished together. Not to mention the lady with the glasses annoyingly tries to push you out the door shortly after receiving your order. Unless you come right when it opens and know exactly what you're going to order (which most normal people don't) you're not going to enjoy your time there. I wouldn't wait 30 minutes+ just to get rushed out. However, as for the sushi I can't complain... they're huge! Both the rolls and the nigiri. So, if you're looking to indulge in a ton of sushi for cheap this is the spot. But if you're looking to relax, enjoy your food or socialize with friends go else where. I would not recommend coming with a huge party (anything more than 5). It's definitely not worth the inconvenience and the wait. But hey, the thick cuts of nigiri for the price ain't bad.

    (3)

  • Rainy D.

    The only Sushi restaurant that I trust in quality and freshness. Always love going there when I'm in town.

    (5)

  • Binh N.

    Super good sushi & sashimi with extreme proportions. You'll always have food to take home after your meal. I would highly recommend arriving early or else you're in for a killer wait. I arrived there 14mins after they had opened (5pm) and was fortunately able to get the last seat. The next person waited ~30mins. I imagination week days are a slight slower but my waitress insured me that was fail. They're business 24/7.

    (4)

  • Jenn W.

    AH. I love this place! It's like Portland's version of Seattle's Musashis but better! I've never seen sushi pieces the size of my hand before! Everything is huge and so yummy! Everything I had was great. Can't complain about giant delicious sushi pieces. They have a large selection of items on their menu so there's definitely something for everyone. I didn't experience a line or long wait but I did go on a Thursday and hung out at the bar across the street until about 10 minutes before they were opening. This place is totally worth trying. It's inexpensive and the giant sushi pieces are if not anything else totally fun to take selfies with ;P

    (4)

  • David S.

    Best sushi in town. Worst service! First time in my life I ever had to go to the waiter to complain after being ignored for 45 minutes.

    (1)

  • William D.

    I stood in line for two hours in 40 degree December weather to eat here years ago. Something I doubt I'd do today. Sadly this place is a shadow of its former self. For a place I used to wait for hours and visit half a dozen times a year I find myself now maybe coming back once a year. What really set this place apart for me was the quality, sheer size, and affordability this place offered. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy eating here when I do, but I'm no longer the Saburos fanboy who stood for hours at the mercy of the Pacific Northwests bipolar weather. Quality and affordability have taken big hits for me. It just doesn't taste like it once did. For the price, it's hard to beat I'll admit. BUT PLEASE STOP NICKEL AND DIMING US ON GINGER, SAUCES, AND WASABI! A dollar for spicy mayo? Please. Extra ginger that undoubtedly comes bulk from a sushi supplier for .50 cents? Ugh. Wasabi that is made with water and bulk horseradish powder for extra? Maybe if it was real horseradish painstakingly ground fresh. But nah. It's like getting charged extra for ketchup on your burger, salad dressing on your salad, let's hope the ice remains charge free But hey, there are some positives still. The sushi still remains eye openingly large. We all know the moment of awe when your tables order finally comes and you think there's no possible way to finish. This place was amazing. And still has so much potential to be. But it's hard to justify standing in line for an hour now a days. There are plenty of sushi restaurants that have the quality in looking for without setting aside half my night.

    (3)

  • Julie T.

    Good: portions are big, cheap, and there's a large selection of sushi Bad: long wait time, and crowded Overall: I like this place because it satisfies your sushi craving and it's a favorite for many because you have so much to choose from. I usually come here with a large party which takes longer to get seating, but if you're here for a small group of 2-4, seating isn't too bad. I'd recommend to go a little before the opening because the lines do get pretty long. Bring an umbrella. Parking is scarce as well - but you can park in residential areas.

    (4)

  • Bryan I.

    Great quality Sushi (B+) combined with awesome prices/portions (A+) in a cozy (albeit usually packed) sushi house. A line of customers out the door is almost guaranteed on even a chilly winter evening, and is a testament to the devoted patrons & great quality of this satisfying little restaurant. The tempura is worth trying, the spider roll is delicious (a must if you've never tried soft-shell crab), & the karate roll is excellent for all eel lovers! Honestly, it's pretty hard to go wrong with any of the rolls & sashimi they offer, and if you have a large group, get one (or two) of the huge platters! There are one or two other sushi bars in PDX with better quality, but I guarantee you'll go home with a bill 2-4x higher than if you went here. If you don't show up right around opening or go super late, you're likely to put your name on a list with at least a 45-60min wait (don't hesitate going to the coffee shop or taking a walk to kill a few minutes). Oh, and don't forget to try the red bean ice-cream (unless you're a huge green tea fan).

    (5)

  • Jake W.

    HUGE portions! Top quality. No wonder we had to wait. It was worth it. And I got a crush on Yoyo.

    (5)

  • Stefanie S.

    Amazing...worth the 60 minute wait!

    (5)

  • Amanda I.

    The sushi here is always fresh, huge, and delicious! Despite the wait, I have returned to this place again and again and it never disappoints.

    (5)

  • Marissa P.

    By far the biggest pieces of sushi I have ever seen, let alone tried to stuff in my mouth! Oh so delicious! So love this place, food is amazing but the wait on a Saturday night is unreal. Our group literally waited 1.5 hours to get a table. When the wait is this long they do require you to order before you are seated. We were told that once you order you are done, you may not order again. While extremely efficient, this isn't very guest friendly. This is the only reason I won't give them 4 stars. Love that you food is almost ready by the time you sit down. However, hate having to order all at once, and in the case of our group, we over ordered by an extremely large amount. Consequence of leaving six hungry people on the street I'm sure. I get wanting to get as many parties sat as possible, I understand wanting to have food ready when you sit down. However, it would just be nice to be able to place an additional order. Service was fast and attentive, food was delicious, sushi was very flavorful and fresh.

    (4)

  • Nick T.

    Great place for the locals around town but great for those who want to try out this place who are out of town this sushi here is the best and size for the value! Highly recommend, please note waiting list is full during business hour be prepared to come early and wait cause this place is fantastic! A+

    (5)

  • Lily D.

    The best time to go here is before they open, that way you don't have to wait for hours and keep seeing delicious to-go food in transparent containers. However, once you get inside, you won't be sorry. The orders usually come fairly quickly and their hot tea is free. The only roll that I would order there is the spider roll. Because of the large portion, you can taste the crunchy soft shell crab which is rare at other places. The rest of the rolls are ok, sometimes too much rice and not worth filling your stomach for. What is worth filling your stomach for would be: 1. Baby octopus: super crunchy on the outside and when you bite into it, a soft and lightly juicy texture will pleasantly fill your mouth. We would order this every time we go there. 2. Unagi: fresh-water eel. My friend described their unagi like this: "If the unagi at most other places can be compared to a piece of dry pork, then this is a perfectly cooked piece of pork belly." The pieces are very thick with layers of meat and fat blended to give a full flavor that unagi is supposed to have. 3. Your favorite nigiri, be it salmon, salmon belly, seared salmon, yellow tail, albacore, tuna, seared tuna, etc: Order it! The portion of fresh fish versus the price is definitely worth the wait. Honestly, I have not found any other place that I can get full on the fish alone for $3-5 per order. (We stopped eating the rice after the 2nd or 3rd piece to keep us from being too full). 4. Hamachi karma: Grilled yellowtail neck. $4.50 for a big piece of thick, juicy grill fish. Why not? 5. And if you have never tried uni (gonads of sea urchin that do not look very appetizing but taste like butter made in heaven): Try it here! It is relatively inexpensive compared to other places and they give you 2 quail eggs to put on top for 50 cents! And again, if you don't want to wait too long, get there at 4:30 on weekdays and 4 on Sat/Sun. Update: recently I found that if you get there late, like 8:30 on some days then you may not have to wait long either, but this method is not consistent so you may try it to see if you get lucky. :)

    (4)

  • Plume Z.

    Saburo only worth for you to wait like one hour to half an hour. More than two hours, you will go crazy... Sushi here is really large, so share with your friends is best choice. Don't oder rolls, unless you want "to go" most of them. Six sushi is the most suitable quantity. Recommend, Deep-fried baby octopus Inari Unagi Uni Smoked Salmon Seared Salmon

    (4)

  • Trin N.

    Wait time can be long but once seated...its worth it. Sashimi, Hawaiian roll and Hamachi collar is a must. Its not just about their large quantity...its quality too. Seafood is fresh. You're lucky if you get Alfredo as your server...entertaining.

    (4)

  • Anthony K.

    value = good price = good wait = horrible quality = average at best attitude of employees = horrible layout of restaurant = cramped menu options = good parkign = small lot and street if you want a piece of sushi made the way it is intended to be made then avoid this place. if you want safeway deli quality sushi or merri-go-round quality stuff then go here and stuff your face. safeway you wont have to wait 2 hours though. No really, if you are new at the sushi thing you will think this place is amazing until you actually venture out and try new places. most people will leave here with left overs because of how enormous the portions are which isnt necessarily a bad thing. However, the old saying 'you get what you pay for" definitely applies with all things including raw fish. thank you and IM OUT!

    (2)

  • Eric F.

    This is a place whose calling card is super-sized sushi. The price is reasonable and the taste decent which makes this a favorite of so many. The décor, service, and taste is unremarkable. This place is a tremendous hit with college students, for whom the pleasure of eating to complete and absolute fullness for not-so-much money is particularly important. I am a crusty middle-aged guy who tries to avoid overeating. The pleasure of sushi is that so many different tastes, textures, ingredients can be experienced at a sitting. Having gigantic pieces of fish limits the variety of my meal, so despite the good value, the large pieces are ultimately a drawback. Another problem with the huge pieces is that they are difficult to eat, usually falling apart from plate to mouth. When I eat sushi rolls I like the pieces not to fall apart so all ingredients can combine in my mouth. Also problematic, the chefs assemble the complete sushi order before sending it out. Some of the sushi may have been sitting on the serving platter for 10 minutes or so, making the nori soggy and chewy, exacerbating the falling-apart problem. I would prefer to have sushi be a rarer experience and pay more for it - I feel Americans reflexively super-size things to the detriment of cuisine and to our waistlines.

    (2)

  • Roanna L.

    Only just worth the one hour wait. The sushi itself is quite good but just not comparable to some sushi restaurants I've been to. Servings are incredibly generous, and raw fish is as fresh as you can get in Portland. Definitely recommend the unagi. I do hope the owners plan to expand...the long lines may add to the hype of the place as one drives by, but for those looking for a last minute dinner, Saburo's is a pass.

    (4)

  • Albert W.

    I am a regular sushi eater and this is my observation. The fish is huge but the rice is too big and rice does not taste as good. The plates are dirty with stain. This place is very dirty. The server is ridiculous slow and rude. i witnessed a waitress yelling a customer. I was referring to an asian lady with glasses. There is a minimum 15 percents tips whether you like it or not. Overall spent 150 bucks for 2 person. I will not go to saburo sushi again because of the service.

    (1)

  • Jeremy J.

    Love this place. It's best to get there 15 minutes before they open so you can get seated right away. Sushi is very large (not really your traditional one bite sushi) so even though it is a little on the pricy side you get what you pay for. Also, I find the tables are a little cramped and ordering is a bit weird. Also, last time they forgot my sashimi order. I absolutely love the seared tuna nigiri. It's basically all I need in life to be happy. Everything here is good though, so just go.

    (4)

  • Claire H.

    The food was fine, but the service was terrible, awful! It's pretty much NO SERVICE at all. They take your order and deliver your meal to your table, that's all. If you love the food so much that you have to go eat at this place. Make sure you read your bill carefully because they already add at least 15% of tips to your bill. DON"T DOUBLE TIP unless you think you deserved to be treated like sh-IT for the amount of tips you pay. I personally would not go back at all. Portland have so many good restaurant that have great food and services waiting for me to visit.

    (1)

  • Meredith P.

    I'm being a bit generous with this rating. I think the virtues of Saburos are already duly noted. For me, those virtues are better described as vices. Yes, the sushi is huge. The quality of the cuts of fish are not particularly impressive. For example, I had the seared salmon nigiri last night and it had this odd brown fatty portion that, at any other thoughtful sushi restaurant, would have been butchered off the fish and left in a scrap bucket. I also felt that because this place is always so incredibly slammed you are ushered to your table and served brusquely as if your mouth is a sushi conveyor belt and the folks serving you just want to shove a bunch of food down your throat so that they can turn another table. All that said, if you have an extremely huge sushi appetite, this is going to be a pretty good value if what you care about is quantity over quality. Will I be back? Maybe, so long as I don't have to wait (which I definitely would not do for this place).

    (3)

  • Josh B.

    GIANT cuts of nigiri (which is all I ordered) and really cheap prices for sushi, even for normal sized portions. All of the fish tasted fresh to me and I tried at least 5 differrent kinds. Service wasnt amazing but I only really care about value and freshness of fish. This is my favorite sushi spot in oregon so far. Only problem is the wait is probably going to be really long and they don't take reservations, but its totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Jan W.

    The sushi at Saburo's never disappoint me! My little cousin who refused to eat raw fish tried Saburo's salmon belly and she was converted to a salmon sushi addict! Most people order the salmon belly but hidden gems of this place are the unagi and the hamachi!

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    Saburo's is a very good sushi place for your $$$$. The quality of the sushi is not the best, but it's not bad either. The hamachi and salmon collars are my favorites... they were simply grilled or broiled... could use a little bit of seasoning or sauce.

    (3)

  • King F.

    Need to work on their service. Absolutely horrible. Rushed us off and wouldn't give us any service once the food came. Couldn't even ask for a cup or tea or water. Once we finally got the rude waitress's attention she coldly stated" I'm only going to give you a little bit (of tea). Lots of people waiting." Dude. Have you heard of service lady? We've been here asking for an ounce of service and a refill since the food came and not once have you came except to put down and get the check. You may have sushi that is somewhat better than other places around here but the service is most definitely the worst. Ruined the whole dinner for me and is definitely not worth the price or waiting time to eat here. Thumbs down.

    (1)

  • Annie C.

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

    (4)

  • Kathy L.

    Let's just start off with I've had many better sushi experience in my life. I've had Saburo's before, and the last time I went, it was about the same and I thought it was because the servers were rude because they were busy, but nope, it was about the same. We waited for awhile, which isn't a reason to complain, because there is a wait list, but once they called our name, we walked in, was seated, and she said "where is the rest of your party?" and we responded that this was our party, and she was like "no it was for 8", so we had to get out and wait again. She yelled the same name and no one responded and we were so sure it was us, we went to check out the name written and it was our hand writing but she called the wrong number so we let it slide, and she called for smaller groups (of like 3) to go and sat where we were sitting, which was the same amount of space just for us, and we had to wait another 20 minutes on top of that. Once we finally got called in, we were place in a super small booth. We received our waters, and kindly asked the server if we could have straws. The guy like scoffed at us, didn't respond, walked away, grabbed straws and literally threw it at our table, so we were like "oh he's probably having a bad day". We finally ordered and received our food. We ordered 5 types of rolls, sashimi, and a poke salad. This is where it got bad. One of the people in our group kindly asked another server because she was heading towards us anyway if they had orange sauce here. She responded and her voice sounded irritated at us, and was super sassy when we only bothered to ask her once and rudely said "Yes we do.... AND it comes with a charge" while shaking her head along with her rude voice like we couldn't afford sauce or something. So we were fine with it but really shocked at how she said it to us, and when the sauce did come out it went to the wrong table, so we were like "what the hell..." in disbelief. So when the chef came out with our rolls, we kindly asked him if we could have some orange sauce, and he was so kind in tone and was like "Sure! There is a charge, so is that okay?" and we were like "yeah its fine", and he comes back and tells us that they ran out of orange sauce, and we concluded that it was the wrong table that got all our large order of orange sauce. Then when we ate our sushi. We got started on the sashimi, thinking that they perfected removing bones out because almost all sushi places don't have bones in their sashimi, and one of the group members ate a sashimi and pulled out a bone and she was like oh they just probably missed that and she was fine with it, but then she ate another sashimi and found another bone and almost swallowed it! We were already upset about the lady with the bad attitude, and now we were more agitated on the sushi. No one checked up on us again until they decided to drop off the bill. We were confused on the bill price because there was auto gratuity of 15% and there was no pre warning on that. And I had a friend that went before and her group was a large group so I assumed that the gratuity was added on to large groups but our group was small. We peeked over at the next table which was a group of 2, and they also had auto gratuity added to it. We were fine with the auto gratuity but our problem was that our own server never checked up on us, there was really bad customer service in general, and it was that we didn't want to tip as much as it was added on because it felt as if they didn't even deserve that entire 15%. If their service was excellent we would have been more than happy to give 15% or 20% even. After we paid and walked out for air and was talking about whole commotion, one of the customers that walked out over heard us chatting even agreed with us, which is kind of sad. If I could give 0 stars, this would probably be the first place, but I'll be giving it 1 because at least the rolls were decent. Moral of the story is, we weren't trying to be rude at all, but if you are having a bad day, don't take it out on the customers, we were really stunned about it. We understand that people have their bad days, but it can't be like this every day.

    (1)

  • Greg M.

    Holy freaking cow! I went to this place on a Saturday, it was slammed. We put our name on the list and went across the street for a beer. Worth the wait. They give you a menu, and you mark which dishes you would like. We tried a little bit of everything and it was all phenom. The rolls are huge and there's a huge selection. They should definitely get bigger bottles of sake. 500ml isn't really enough to split with a 4 top, so you might want to order a couple. A few downsides, The size of the place for one, and how many people they pack in there for another. Not bothersome enough to give it any less stars, but it will be crowded if you go during the weekend. The service could be a lot better, but you write your order yourself, so that's not really the point at a place like this. Not to mention, they know what there selling is awesome, so it's probably easy to get impatient with people who don't know anything about sushi. All in all, it was probably the best food I had while visiting Portland. I'll be making it a regular stop whenever I'm up that way.

    (4)

  • Sarah R.

    The sushi was good, but not worth the wait. It was cheap and the rolls were very large, but they had a ton of rice! I was full quickly because of all the rice they use. I would go back if I didn't have to wait for an hour to be seated.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth G.

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

    (5)

  • Julia C.

    The food is great! At least 4 stars for sure. But the service here is so bad. I don't feel like a valued customer coming here. The hostess at the door is pretty rude. You can't get a table unless your whole party has arrived, and you can only order your food once. It's a little odd. And no take out. My husband and I came on a Thursday evening. We were pleasantly surprised at how short our wait was, just 10 minutes. And they accept credit cards now. The menu is very straightforward with pictures of each item. You mark the items you want. The food comes really fast. You eat. You pay. You get a box if your plate is not finished. It's pretty systematic, almost feels like a fast food restaurant.

    (3)

  • Nicole B.

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

    (2)

  • Megan Y.

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

    (2)

  • Nathan Z.

    Come here and get your food and don't expect anything else. The service is horrible. I don't know why the server still work there if they get irratated from a simple request for wasabi. They force 15% service on two of us. If it is up to me , I wouldn't tip them. They are simply rude. Yes. The sushi taste good. But that's about it. The place has no parking. The space is very crowed. The bathrooms are very very dirty. You will appreciate McDonald's bathroom after using it.

    (2)

  • Shirley G.

    Big pieces of nigiris for really reasonable price!!! I have never seen such pieces of nigiris which takes two bites to eat it. The fish was pretty fresh tasting too. TIP... it is best to come line up 30 minutes early as this place gets packed!!! There was a long line before the place even opened! Anyways, the service was pretty fast since we already knew to order and was one of the few that order before everyone else. Plus, smaller parties are always easier to be seated. The place got filled quite fast and we were in & out within 30 minutes since my bf & I eat pretty fast. I think about this place from time to time...

    (5)

  • Minnie M.

    I am seriously disgusted with this place. I have been here several times in the past but after today's experience I will NEVER step another foot in this restaurant ever again. The service is TERRIBLE. The big lady with glasses and short hair was absolutely RUDE and obnoxious. If she does not want to work - stay the hell at home. I work at a place where we take customer service seriously and she definitely needs training on what customer service is. She not only ignored, cut my words off, but rolled her eyes at every other customer. I told her to stay the eff at home if she does not want to work. She should not be getting paid for her rude behavior nor should be working for an industry with customer service if she does not even know the BASICS for service. I would much rather pay extra for BETTER quality sushi and WONDERFUL service. This place is a joke. WOW mind you and beware people. So I basically came to do a take out order which they do not even offer: I told them I was here to just take food out and the rude lady said we have to wait and be seated which whatever alright thats fine. So I waited over an hour, was seated, put my order in, asked for boxes and boxed everything up MYSELF. Asked for more ginger which they charged 50 cents but alright I'm FINE with that too. And here comes my bill with a automatic 15% gratuity added to it. Wait excuse me? I'm giving you guys 15% for your rude service and MY self service? REALLY?

    (1)

  • Krystal P.

    I had some expectations coming into this restaurant for their rolls and sushi. There was a long wait and that is pretty normal for a popular place. Since my friends and I are not from OR, we waited for almost an hour to be seated. Once it was our turn, we were asked to be seated in a 2 person table when there were 4 of us. We squeezed in at the booth seating and put 2 chairs next to each other. We were literally sitting 5 inches away from the person next to our table. Really crowded and uncomfortable. Most of the sushi and the sashimi were out of our price range so we ordered about 5-7 rolls. It took a little under an hour for one roll to come out. It took another hour for the rest of the rolls to come. We were hangry (hungry + angry). The service was terrible. Really busy, but I noticed that the waitress did a poor job serving when the table next to us was trying to requesting some orders several times. So what do I remember coming out of this place? Ridiculous amount of time to wait to get in and get the food and poor service. The food? It was good, but not worth my time to wait. They really tested my patience level.

    (3)

  • Tito N.

    Saburo remains one of my favorite sushi house in Portland. Always dependable to serve the freshest, delectable sushi in a huge serving size, you can also count on the line in the small restaurant to be extremely long. I came on a Tuesday night and waited from 7 to 9. If you can be patient, their salmon skin salad is one of the best.

    (4)

  • T L.

    This is the restaurant I have to go every time I visit Portland. Love the "quantity" of the food. The price reflects quality as well. The waiting line is as long as at DMV but they don't give you the number. So, put your name on the waiting list and go for a walk in the cute neighborhood. You need it before you eat

    (4)

  • Angela A.

    I'm reluctant to give even one star. Yesterday when my boyfriend ate a piece of toro, he got a FISH BONE lodged in his throat. For the next four hours, he said it was very uncomfortable to swallow and later that night my friend removed two fish bones from the back of his throat with tweezers. Even after removing the bones, his throat felt swollen and uncomfortable. The toro itself tasted so old and extremely bad quality. I have been a loyal customer of saburos for the past couple years. I don't mind the sometimes insanely long wait and the not-so-great service. What I find absolutely unacceptable is paying and eating sushi with bones in it. I will NOT be returning to saburos because I personally like to enjoy eating sushi without being scared of getting a fish bone lodged in my throat. For anyone who chooses to eat there, I warn you to be careful when eating their sushi and to look out for bones. That feels ridiculous to say for a sushi place. There are other much better sushi places that are worth your time and that won't endanger their customers. I'll be the first to say this place is overrated and not worth your time.

    (1)

  • Catalina D.

    Biggest sushi pieces I have ever seen in my life! Holy cow! Very fresh and tasty though! No points for environment, and service is minimal. Could do away with the automatic 15% tip. However, the lines outside are understandable.

    (4)

  • Clifford K.

    Best sushi in Oregon. Very fresh and delicious. Highly recommend for those sushi lovers.

    (5)

  • D F.

    Went recently and everything seemed a little better.. no other bs and food was good as always. Service has gotten a tad bit better. The wait time isn't their fault, there's just too many people going!

    (4)

  • Alex P.

    Cool place. We arrived about an hour early to get in line and we definitely needed to. They offer giant, fresh sushi for a really economic price without a drop in quality or variety. When you eat here, you WILL have leftovers for at least another meal. The meal was really great, but we were shocked when the bill came with 15% gratuity included, especially when we had to write out our order and only saw any service when are orders were "taken" and when our bill was brought out.

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    Went there with my friend last month. The food was good. Calamari was ok but not that tasty. The 18% of gratuity was added on our check. It wasn't ok because there were just two of us. Upon the law, they can't add the gratuity on a tap of a party of under 6 people. My friend was mad. It was insulting customers. Those three servers should have known about the law. Marking up tip like this is not good. Two servers look like teenagers and one around 30s. My friend was gonna tip the servers 20%. So we tipped them the added 18%. The funny thing was my friend gave them tip, but she got change back. They need to be trained how to do the system.

    (2)

  • Jonie N.

    Best super, sized sushi ever. Yes, the wait can be quite ridiculous (almost 1.5 hours for a table for 4 the last time I went) and they don't take numbers to call you when a table's almost ready, so you just kind of have to check in every so often to see where you are on the list or you'll lose your place in line. Anyway, by the time you get your sushi, you almost forget how long you waited because it's so worth it. There's seriously nowhere else I've been that compares to the nigiri from this place. The pieces of fish are HUGE and they are super fresh and delicious. My favorites are the salmon belly and seared salmon.. drool just thinking about it :) The crab is real meat too, no imitation! As for the rolls, they're good, but if you like your fish, the nigiri is so amazing you'd definitely rather get full off of that. Aside from sushi, I've had the shrimp tempura and it was really good too - lightly battered and tender shrimp. Lastly, prices are great. Every time I come, it usually ends up being around $20 per person (inc. tax + tip) and you leave completely full and satisfied. For sushi, that's a great deal. Saburo's is a must every time I'm in Portland. NOTE: Service is good, but they can be a bit rush rush, and try to get you out as soon as you're done eating. There's always still a crowd waiting outside the restaurant, so it's completely okay and understandable.

    (5)

  • Lyle M.

    I came to Saburo's while on vacation back in summer of 2006, and I was blown away. When I moved to Portland in summer of 2008, I started frequenting it on a regular basis. After several visits, I have to say that the novelty has worn off. Don't get me wrong - the place is good, the rolls are huge, and it's very inexpensive (2 people can stuff themselves for less than $20). But after half a dozen visits in three months, I seem to have run the gamut of different rolls that I want to try, and my past few experiences with the Unagi roll have been less than thrilling. The pieces are also obnoxiously big, so much so that there are times you just have to say the hell with it and use your fingers instead of chopsticks. It tastes good, but it's not "to-die-for" delicious; I've had better sushi back in Maryland. I'll still come here occasionally for some cheap, quick sushi, but I'll be looking elsewhere for that elusive "to-die-for" sushi experience. UPDATE 2/1/2009 - Saburo's has redeemed itself in my eyes, and I've grown to love it again. I just won't get the Unagi roll anymore, but their Spicy Tuna roll is absolutely delicious!

    (4)

  • Simon L.

    Run for your lives! It's the attack of the humongous sushi! Generous portions here, the sushi chefs don't hold anything back. Above average sushi but not the greatest. It's a great place to get decent sushi and a lot of bang for your buck. The only thing I don't like about this place is that it is verrrrrry small and there is almost always a long line. Overall a good experience.

    (3)

  • Angelique H.

    I could not love this restaurant more. It is hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. The sushi is fresh, with large portions and is super cheap. Make sure you put your name on the list and are ready for a wait. It is worth it!

    (5)

  • Aaron V.

    Great sushi. Very small and very popular, so show up early and be prepared to wait (a while). These are the biggest pieces of sushi that I've ever seen! Unless you want leftovers, back off the quantity a little. Parking is really limited, too.

    (3)

  • Shirley C.

    OK, we decided to go to Saburo's because there is always a long line whenever we have passed by and one of my work acquaintances said they always go there for sushi. We put our names on the waiting list and sat down on the outside bench. I decided to pull up the review on Yelp to see what everyone else was saying. Hmmmm....very mixed reviews, people either loved it or they hated it. There were no reviews that were middle of the road. We got seated fairly quickly, the place is fairly small but they seem to have a pretty good system in place to keep things moving. We decided to order the same things we normally do at sushi restaurants so we could have a fair comparison. Miso, unagi, yellowtail, salmon, tuna, gyoza and one of their speciality rolls.... Our drinks and miso arrived very quickly, the miso was very good but the draft sapporo was a little bitter. The sushi arrived soon after we finished our miso. HOLY COW, each piece of sushi had 1/2 a fillet of fish on it. I have never seen anything like it! If we had known, we would not have ordered that much food. The pieces were so big, I had to tear pieces of the unagi off so I could lift the sushi off of the plate. When I went to dip it into the soy sauce, the rice fell apart into the dipping bowl so I had this nasty mess of rice, soy sauce and wasabi at the bottom. The eel had an OK flavor but it was so thick that the texture was not right so it almost made me gag. The salmon did not seem as fresh as it should be and it had grey spots on it OK, I decided to give up on the sushi and wait for the gyoza. I have never had a gyoza that I have not liked....until now. Tempura battered gyoza?!?! What the #@$? OK, I like tempura, I like gyoza, this may be awesome, I pray it is awesome because the sushi was a bust. No such luck, the tempura just makes it a big battered mess and the dipping sauce has a bitter taste to it. How could my normal rules on choosing restaurants go so wrong? My rule is, if you see long lines outside a restaurant every time you drive by and.also, if you talk with a friend and they give it a thumbs up, you are golden. I am going to have to rethink this strategy...... Bottom line is, if you only care about the size of the portions, this place is awesome. If you care about the flavor and quality of the fish, please reconsider the dining choice. I debated on giving this restaurant 1 or 2 stars. I had to settle on 1 star because it is all about the food, the service was good, the amount of food was generous but the flavor and quality of the food is what it is all about.

    (1)

  • Ino G.

    As stated in a review below, quantity at the cost of quality. Sushi making and presentation is an art that makes the user appreciate it. It definitely does not happen here and I won't be back! Sorry.

    (1)

  • Mike W.

    I can't add anything more than what was said. I went, I loved, I had a G-R-E-A-T time. I did have a huge beer and Sake' to match along with my huge Unagi. Yum.

    (4)

  • Sean S.

    Sushi and rolls are bigger than normal, but is still decently priced. Only downside is the seating, wait time if you decide to eat there (and if you don't wait outside at least 45 mins before it opens), and parking. They serve a few other things besides sushi and rolls too. Although I wasn't a big fan of the spicy tuna roll; b/c they use the spicy sweet sauce, I would still go back because of the portion, cost, and other stuff tasted okay. For 6 of us, ending up paying $30 per person and was very full after. If you don't finish, they can give you a to-go container. FYI - As far as credit cards, I think they only accept Visa, MC, and AMEX.

    (4)

  • Kayla N.

    I've been eating here in years, but today the service really disappointed me, especially the FAT waitress, she was so impolite and agressive. She used her loud voice with a rude attitude to talk to us and even demand us to move table. The food is not good like before too...I don't know why but the golden time of Saburo's is ending soon, pretty soon if they keep treating customers like that.

    (2)

  • Angel M.

    Food was ok. Worst service !!!!! I don't know how can the boss hire that lady to be server???

    (2)

  • Vijay K.

    Worth the wait? Absolutely! I've been coming here since I was in middle school(twenty four now) the portions and price have changed over the years the eel is a lot smaller portion and has increased in price. The sashimi and rolls here are extremely huge and yes not traditional but still very very tasty! I recommend dining mon-wed to experience a shorter wait and sometimes none! My only problems with this place is the service can be a little frustrating but keep in mind this restaurant is always packed!

    (4)

  • Jarrett B.

    Omgeez, its like a sushi dream I love itttt. It was like my bed was made of unagi and my pillows were made of salmon belly, i have night shivers remembering the taste on my tongue. I would go back here in a heartbeat. They pushed me out since they were so busy on a Sunday night, but they let me order take out, so fortunately I didn't have to go hulk smash on their establishment. I love you Saburo

    (4)

  • Joyce F.

    Kind of surprised to see ratings lower than 3 stars for Saburos. Yes the annoying part is the looong wait, but when you finally get seated the wait is so worth it. The seafood is super fresh and they aren't stingy about their portions at all (like most sushi restaurants are). Salmon is definitely one of the best, but my favorite is the soft shelled crabs. The seafood is so fresh and full of flavor. Definitely one of my favorite sushi restaurants.

    (4)

  • Tim T.

    Food taste excellent. The quantity is great. You can't find a cheap and yet quality Sushi, except Saburo. I took one star off, because the service sucks. They would not automatically fill your water or tea up, unless you keep calling them. And then the wait is lonooooonng.

    (4)

  • Renae S.

    very good and very fresh!! im more of a roll fan than a sushi fan .I did see plates of sushi going by and well...they didnt look that good. The pieces of fish on them were huge! you honestly have to cut them in half to eat each piece. the roll i had was very good though, it was a special they had. i will definately go back but not if im starving because 99% of the time theres a huge wait.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    4 stars for one thing - cheap HUGE rolls the food overall is okay, and the sashimi is not as fresh as i would perfer, but you are definitely getting your money's worth!! i got the edaname and miso soup for appetizer. edaname was good. miso could have been better... the seaweed in the soup wasnt the normal texture im used to. for rolls, i got the sabu roll. really good!! it comes with 3 different types of sashimi on top and inside has cucumber, fish roe, avocado amongst other things - definitely worth it. i would have gotten more rolls if i knew it was going to be so good i also go the chef's special sashimi dish. definitely comes with a vareity of sashimi probably 6 different ones with shrimp and crab on top of cucumber i read some complaints about the staff but you write your order on the menu, so they can't get it wrong. they were very attentive, but then again i went in pretty late at like 9pm so there wasn't that many patrons. but i was satisfied.. definitely would come here again with a bigger appetite.

    (4)

  • Reed E.

    Finally made it in here, and I thought the rolls were pretty good. Although their mammoth size made for awkward eating, I had to eventually forgo the chopsticks and just dive in. The service was attentive and quick, for how busy it was. Guess I lucked out, I showed up at 5 on a Tuesday and was able to follow the line in and snag a table. I could not imagine waiting 1+ hours to get in here. It was good, but not spend my whole night in Sellwood good. Also, $.75 for refills? Pffft. I'll probably come back if I can walk right in, and maybe smuggle a Sprite in my purse.

    (4)

  • Cayla C.

    I am not a fan of sushi, but everyone in our party loved this place! The rolls were giant to say the least. My meal (chicken teryaki) was delicious as well as the sesame chicken appetizer. The place was packed, the service was fine. Bring an umbrella to wait in line though!

    (4)

  • Jando S.

    While the service has taken a turn for the worst, the ever-crowded, line waiting, enormous sized sushi is worth it ... only if you're in the mood for it. Saburo's happens to be one of those places in which the pros nearly outweigh the cons with an incredible line (arrive by 4:30 or you might be in for a wait), crowded atmosphere, sushi quality varies, spotty service, and limited parking. If those things don't turn you off, then this is an ideal spot for the cheap eats for fish cuts almost large enough to fill a burger (see nigiri sake - salmon). Some of the sushi elitists out there may be turned off by many of the elements that make this place as popular, however, its worth a try at least once.

    (4)

  • M Z.

    The sushi was hit or miss depending on what we got. For instance, the Hawaiian roll was pretty good, but the negihama roll, salmon skin roll, eel nigiri, etc were dominated by an overwhelmingly large quantity of rice. Without a doubt, the common theme was lots of rice and so so fish. Between the two of us, there was at least 1+ lb of rice we ditched. This is your place if you are looking for quantity over quality. Just like voodoo donuts, you end up ordering more than you want or need because of the long wait in line only to be disappointed by a brilliant business model that somehow gets people to assume something is good because so many people are willing to wait in line for it.

    (2)

  • Tan N.

    One-word impression: SUPER As in super-sized, super-cheap, and super-tasty. I've braved the long lines at Saburo thrice now, and I have left each time with two feelings that I don't normally leave a sushi bar with: complete fullness and less strain on my funds. My latest experience was no different, as I took my little sister out to experience the madness that is Saburo. First, to those unfamiliar with Saburo, understand that this is no classy or refined place, and that there are some significant negatives for serious dilettantes. The wait is very long, the atmosphere is cramped, and the service can be pushy. However, for those who can be okay with that, the experience of eating the jumbo-sized sushi for a reasonable price more than makes up for such negatives. Additionally, I will also admit that the quality of the fish and rice themselves are not as high as some of the high-end sushi places I've been to over the years, but they are still pretty good. On this occasion, my sister and I shared an order of the unagi sushi, the budokan roll, the karate roll, and the spider roll. You only need to look at the photos that others have posted to see how much food this actually came out to be. We ended stuffing ourselves silly, which is such a rarity when eating out for sushi. On top of that, the whole meal with some drinks was less than $20 per person, which is phenomenal. Overall, Saburo may not have the supreme quality that fancy sushi places have, but for the quantity and price, you won't find a better value dining anywhere else in town. I will gladly brave the wait line again if only just for the feeling of getting so much more for less.

    (5)

  • Siera R.

    If I'm in the mood to wait in line, I'll head over here. I love scallops they are mixed with a sesame oil for the nigiri

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    This is literally the best sushi place I've ever been to. And I worked at an upscale sushi restaurant. This is why: -The pieces of fish you get in both the rolls and the ngiri/sashimi are huge and fresh. -the rolls are really well rolled (this only really matters when sushi is rolled poorly and the whole thing falls apart..doesn't happen here) -The service is ridiculously fast. -totally reasonable prices, when considering the quality Only con? -They push you out! Lines are so long for this place, they dont let you relax. I've been asked to leave on more than one occasion because they literally need that table. To me, that just means that this place is THAT good. There is usually a wait, but the bar across the street, Kay's, is a great place to wait until then. :)

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    I don't care what you say, but it's my favorite. New york or Chicago Pizza, Pats or Geno's, Creamy or Chunky. There are some issues that have two definitely sides of the fence and loving Saburos is one of them. I do not think less of people who hate Saburos, I know there are people that do, and they are entitled to their opinion. I'll tell you what they have and you can decide for yourself. There are definitely enough people that love it that there is always a line an hour long to get in...if you're lucky. I remember when I was younger they hadn't added in the back section yet and there were only about 6 tables and the bar. Saburos knows that they have a desirable unique product and they act as such. The rolls are huge and price as well, if not better than your local sushi joint. Don't come here on a first date, you are not going to look attractive shoving these rolls in your face hole. But for an average eater 2 rolls is plenty. Lots of very different ingredients and flavors, instead of a bunch that revolve around imitation crab. They have let up on their rules a bit. It used to be that you couldn't order more than once, so you usually had to order a bunch and they err on the side of taking leftovers home. They won't split up orders. There is no to go on weekends. They only split checks one way. Your whole party must be present. But like I said, they have let up a bit on their rules. I like the rice. It's not too vinegary, but it definitely has some flavor. The size of the rolls though just defy all of the laws of packing density and physics. It is really something to behold. The sashimi is huge too. The pieces of Unagi are the size of a dollar bill. However, for some people, less is more. They have other dishes that are reasonably priced like their udon and raw tuna salad (Salad with Tuna, not a tuna salad) Service is always a little pokey and not super warm, but this isn't a Hooters, you didn't come for the service. So give them a try and decide for yourself if you love it or hate it. I won't judge you if you hate it, more sushi for me. Make sure you go on a weekday when it isn't raining or bring an umbrella, a lot of patience and a big appetite.

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    I've been coming to Saburo's with my family for years but this is the first time I've ever received the terrible customer service described in many different Yelp reviews for this restaurant. While writing down and double checking what we wanted to order on the menu (because you can only order once), our waitress came by and asked us three different times if we were ready to order. Don't you think that by the second time she asked us and we said we weren't ready, that she would just hang back and then wait until we put our pen down and call her over to order? Simple logic failed this waitress. Anyway, our waitress (woman with glasses) decided that she wouldn't be treating us like human beings tonight, instead she would toss our appetizers on the table and walk away to serve others. Yeah, I get it - the restaurant is busy but that is no excuse to treat us like dogs. Food was decent, fresh fish, etc. We received our check and noticed there was a 15% gratuity automatically charged. Our waitress had a serious attitude and definitely did not deserve 15%, which came out to be about $18 on our check for a table of four. She also took away our tea pot at the end of our meal when we were still drinking it... You're kidding, right? Super aggressive and pushy. In the end, big egos, long lines, and not worth it.

    (1)

  • Sophie L.

    I haven't been back since they treated my mother and I like we're criminals. We came early on a weekend before it opens, because that's pretty much how you can get a seat right away. When we all went in, the waiter showed everyone to their back seat. My mother and I sat at the 2 person table after he finished seating the back room. Then minutes later, he asked why we're sitting there because the couple behind us suppose to have that table. I told him that's where we thought we're suppose to be sitting. Turns out, because there was another group of Asian in front of us, he assumed we're from the same party, and seated them at the big table. He proceeds to tell us that the seat was meant for someone else, and blamed us for stealing their table even though they were behind us. First of all, its not our fault that he assumed all Asian are in the same group. He didn't ask for number of parties, and decidedly blamed us for his prejudice nature. Cheap sushi is not worth this kind of prejudice treatment. They need to train their staff its not okay to assumed all race are part of a group.

    (1)

  • Chris C.

    Very good sushi and gigantic portions. Only downside of this place is the long line to get in and it is pretty small inside. I was with a great group so we really enjoyed our meal!

    (4)

  • Gaye F.

    There are no words to describe the quality and particularly the quantity of the food there. It makes all other sushi places unacceptable to me. Yes, the wait is usually outrageous and hate not being able to order more than once but they have their rules and I am willing to abide by them just for the experience of being there.... Yum Yum Yum

    (5)

  • B.Marie G.

    I didn't get the see the lady with the glasses!! from reading the reviews, I wanted a picture.. But other than that, everyone was really nice, I didn't feel rushed at all, and the food was sooo fresh.. The sashimi tuna was super fresh.. I am so picky on sushi, and this is the best Ive had. The prices are very fair. best to go on an off time with no wait, but it is worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Songphon M.

    Every time I go there, there is always a waiting line. People (including me) seem to be patient enough to wait. Well, it's worth the wait as the sushi here is big and delicious. I really like the "Unagi" or Eel shusi here as it comes in huge serving. I also enjoy Big "O" Roll which is a fried sushi with delicious fish and assortment filling - coming with special dipping sauce that compliments the taste nicely. I also love "Rainbow Roll" which is not on the menu, you have to ask the stuff to write down this item for you. It is basically two of different sushi rolls of tuna and crab meat with avocado filling and mayo topping. Yummy!

    (4)

  • Eggland B.

    The good things about Saburo's are that their rolls are giant, economically priced, and pretty tasty. I think over the years that the quality has gone down a little, although I disagree with some other reviewers who say the quality is "bad" but I agree it's not premium. Lately I've been annoyed at two practices that I think are really not very considerate of the consumer: 1) They are now often telling people that they are only allowed to order once. One of the fun things about sushi is that you can order a little, eat, then order some more if you like. I understand that their kitchen is busy, but other restaurants make it work so I don't see why it's such a problem for Saburo's. 2) On at least two occasions recently they've had a sign on their door saying that their credit card machine isn't working and that they're taking cash only. Then inside I saw people paying with a credit card. The second occasion that this happened I thought that it was a little suspicious that they're having so many problems with their credit card machine. So, I decided to try paying with a credit card and they took it. I suspect (but can't prove of course) that they may simply be lying to their customers, saying that their credit card machine is down so that people will pay cash. I don't think it's okay to lie to customers. Either tell people that you have decided not to accepting credit cards, or accept them happily. But don't lie about it. EDIT: I see that someone else has also commented about "lies about machines being down (cash only) to avoid transaction fees" so I take that as confirmation that this is a lie that they're telling customers.

    (2)

  • Chris W.

    No. Just, no. The summary: waited an hour for mediocre tasting, over-priced sushi and put up with their rude service. Me and three others showed up shortly after opening and waited about an hour for our table--no big deal, since we knew from other helpful reviews here on Yelp that the wait was long, and so we expected it. Finally got seated in their cramped little corner table, and placed our orders. Food came fairly quickly, and the sushi portions were big--so far, so good (or at least, not bad). However, their salmon and sashimi was chewy (if you know good sushi, you know it isn't supposed to be like that), and the price was a little higher than I've had at better quality restaurants. Ordered a couple of pitchers of beer, too. All in all, I would have probably given the food experience 3 stars, but the killer was the end of the meal. They brought our check--$107 and some change--and then, the waitress came up to us while we were still finishing our drinks and actually said "there's a lot of people waiting, so..." and made a "get out of here" gesture with her hands. Are you kidding me? I just waited an hour for less-than-good sushi and paid $107 for it, I'm not even finished with my drink yet, and you're actually shooing me out? Ridiculous.

    (1)

  • Prince of P.

    TWO WORDS....Not good, over rated, long wait, don't go...

    (2)

  • Kenny H.

    I find it important to respond to people claiming this place is ANYTHING like Todai. NO, it is not. Todai is nasty. Todai does not even come close to tasting as good... nor do they have rolls with such great flavor, and the value (as mentioned clearly in most every review) is MUCH better too boot. If you like less rice in your roles (counting the "Boo Hoo the Sushi is just too BIG crowd...wah wah wah")...then try the basic sushi. I had Hamachi twice now (usually I skip simple sushi orders because the roles fill me up so much)... and it has absolutely melted in my mouth. Every bit as good as many of those places people have raved to me about in all their presentation and artistic glory that provide those "itsy bitsy" pieces of sushi for more money and I spend 1/4 of my pay check on to actually "get full". Maybe it has that Super Size Me aspect...but when I go to the fancy shmancy places that put a sliver of pickled radish and teeny tiny slivers of cucumber with some fresh tuna and call that a "roll"...I actually feel like I am not being totally ripped off after a visit to Saburo. I sense some positive energy coming the way of the owners for providing sushi at a reasonable price and quantity that makes "going out to sushi" more frequent and sustainable for real average income people to do. Nope...even after 2 years and an average of 1 visit a month...Saburo is still KING!!!

    (5)

  • Joanne L.

    I think this is totally worth the 45-60 min wait. The sushi pieces are absolutely huge and and unagi pieces are as big as your hands. My absolute favorite is the tuna. It just literally melted in your mouth. My husband and I love eating soft-shell crab and have eaten it at many different sushi restaurants. I actually wouldn't recommend ordering it since it wasn't anything special. I would say just stick to the nigiri. I'm actually from Boston, MA and was there for a wedding. I would totally visit again just to go to Saburo's again. YUM!

    (4)

  • Donn C.

    This is like the Walmart of Sushi places. If you're a big fan of Olive Garden and Outback this is the place for you. They serve massive pieces of sushi with inferior quality fish at a very reasonable price.

    (1)

  • Kevin C.

    There was a huge hype on this restaurant when I first moved into Portland so I finally decided to check it out. Here's why I thought it's only worthy of 3 stars. 1. wait was 1hr 45 min (yes, expect that if you are going during peak hrs, and consider yourself lucky if you can find a butt rest. 2. slow service 3. gigantic portions 4. reasonable pricing 5. too much hype which set my expectation on quality too high hence food didn't taste as good. Or maybe it tasted okay since I was starving outside for an hour

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    The sushis are ok. As other reviews said, they serve really really XXL sushi. Worth to go if never been there. Waiting time is twice as long as the eating time. Mine is 2 hours.

    (3)

  • Sarah Y.

    my boyfriend loves to make me wait for ever in line to eat at this place. I've decided it's because he's a pig. the rolls ARE big, weirdly big. i just don't understand what all the fuss is about. you wait in line, and then wait some more, and then.....mediocre sushi that you could have bought at fredmeyer and been able to eat without the new people in line staring you down. i don't eat fish, so i always get the veggie rolls. I hope that's why I'm not understanding the greatness of this place. i will say i like the frenzied atmosphere, and how cozy and tucked in all the people pigging out are. fun for people watching and eavesdropping on conversations you were not invited into.........*_*

    (2)

  • chris m.

    not the best sushi i've ever had, but really far from the worst. aside from queasiness-inducing buffets (don't eat old fish, folks), i have never emerged fuller from a sushi meal. i am a big eater and a frequent over-orderer, and i bask in the glory that is becoming overstuffed on sushi. i am the founder and sole member of a religion that believes that, much like the beer you left undrunk, the sushi you leave uneaten will be a toll to pay before entering heaven--you must eat all of this abandoned artfood, and quaff all of this now-stale fermented goodness before entering the pearly gates. so it is with great sadness that i leave behind any scraps at a sushimeal. especially one that i am paying for instead of making myself. saburo's is the second time in my life i have been forced to leave a plate unemptied, and i have eaten well over 200 sushi meals in my days. the ridiculous thing is that the meal that my date and i ordered clocked in at under $50 total, including a beer. W. T. F.! i can typically eat about $80 of sushi on my own. this fish was pretty good, and the serving size phenomenal, and the service zippy. the only reason i can't give it top ranks is that better fish is findable (even at uwajimaya). when the fish melts in your mouth, the taste buds dance, and the texture is reminiscent of the memory of the yielding flesh of a lady, and you are at one with the universe...that, my friends, is a 5.

    (4)

  • Will W.

    I live in Seattle, WA and drive at least once a month to Portland just to grab some sushi from Saburo. Best way is to come on the weekdays, because it's almost impossible to get a table on the weekends. The price is almost the same as SushiLand or Blue C Sushi, but the portion is wayyyyy bigger and taste much better. I love their Unagi, Salmon, and the Crab sushi. For the appetizer, make sure you order the deep-fried tofu called "Age-Dashi Tofu"! That's all I gotta say, and I'll be back there again in a week :)

    (5)

  • Evan H.

    Saburo's is in the neighborhood where I grew up and I miss it dearly. It's popular for a reason--the portions here are huge and the atmosphere is fun and tends to be busy. It isn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty close. I recommend eating here if you want to see an old Portland favorite and have a surefire decent meal. So, maybe this review is a bit nostalgic, but this place is dear to my heart and to all the haters who don't want to wait in line... Well, I wish you wouldn't. Why not eat somewhere else with no line? Like Mike's Drive-In or Burgerville, which are also pretty awesome?

    (4)

  • Neil O.

    Wow! The photos pretty much tell the whole story. Gargantuan portions at jaw-dropping prices. What you don't see is hit or miss waiter service. Others have said the wait can be long. And I don't mean the food, but a table. A signup sheet hangs by the front door. If you aren't there before the doors open, sign up immediately! I've seen newbies fail to notice the little clipboard and others sign up ahead of them while they wait patiently for the crowd to dwindle. What a pity. I've also seen people erase a name in the queue and write in their own. For shame. You see, it's a battlefield out there. Once you get past the barbed wire and landmines (mild exaggeration) a coveted seat awaits. Another tip: print out a copy of the menu on their website and fill it in before visiting Saburo's. The wait will seem much shorter and I'm sure the waiter appreciates it. Plus, it will be the only order you'll get to make on your visit, because that's how they run things. I recommend, well, all of their nigiri. Their sea urchin (an acquired taste) is actually quite good. I hate to admit this, but their salmon nigiri, made from farmed salmon, tasted better than any wild salmon nigiri I've had. Probably because of the extra fat that gave it its smooth, buttery flavor. Also a hit is their fried salmon skin salad. Their tempura is so-so average. Try a bit of everything. I'm willing to bet nothing on their menu will disappoint. Just don't try it all in one sitting!

    (5)

  • Shiyala B.

    I was a little nervous to try this place... I'm kind of a armature when it comes to sushi if its not going around on a conveyor belt I'm lost!! But i fell in love.. the sushi is amazing and so Delicious !!! I absolutely love the "Big O roll so good and by far my favorite! I will definitely be going back soon... even though the wait is long the food is so worth it!

    (4)

  • Lily P.

    Love, love, love Saburo's! Yeah, the line is long, but if you get there just before they open you'll typically get in and if you go for a late dinner 8ish or 9ish, or on an off night like a Tues. or Wed., it's the same. Now every time I eat at a different Sushi place I'm always disappointed by the portions and the bill. Saburo's is the "mother load" of sushi! You won't be disappointed by the quality or the quantity or the bill. I always end up having left-overs for a late snack ;-) The atmosphere is casual and hip, kind of noisy cafeteria style, food comes quickly once you're seated. If you're waiting in line to be seated try Kay's up the street - they make awesome John Daily's and the bartenders are fab ;-)

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    Best Sushi ever. I give this place 5 stars for its category of cuisine. Everything tastes so fresh. There's always at least a 15 minute wait. Open only for dinner starting at 5pm. Order everything at once and know what you want cause that's all you get! So order more than less. The tempera rolls and specials are perfectly crisp and light and served with the most delicious sauce. I wish they would let me take a gallon of it home. Beautiful fresh fish. If raw fish is not your thing, there's plenty of other options. Usually spend about $70 between 3 people including sake and some food left over to take home.

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    Simply the best for when you want to gorge on sushi - big rolls little prices. But the line. The godforsaken line. Makes me wonder if I should knock my rating down a star or two. If you are so hot to trot that you have a two hour line stretching around the block, why not expand? Seriously. Just expand enough to knock the line down to one hour. You'll still be Saburo's. I don't do lines, because I read somewhere once that if you stand in enough of them, by the time you die, the tally will add up to months and possibly years. With this fear in mind, my strategy is to go spontaneously on a horribly rainy day. I bet a snowy day would work even better ! Anyway, I check my name right when they open and go back and wait in the car. You and your buds can take turns checking on your status. When you get ok'd for clearance, they can cell-y tele you back in the car. Or we will wait for the evening of said stormy night and do the same thing about 30 minutes before closing. The food is great and cheap, but lines are for people who enjoy being bored and watching cars drive by.

    (4)

  • Mason P.

    BEST SUSHI PLACE EVER! The rolls are big and come in amounts of 4-8 rolls per order. They are not only big but delicious! On top of that, there's a large selection of sushi, and the prices rock! For a group of 3 people, spending $30-$35 total will more than fill you up and satisfy you. Best place for cheap sushi, but also has a a lot of quantity and quality. The only thing about Saburo's, is that it can take a while to get in. Expect to wait 15-45 minutes to get in. It's not open all day but when it is open it's packed. Why? BECAUSE IT ROCKS!

    (5)

  • Lynn I.

    This place is awesome and my favorite sushi place in town. Why? Because the rolls are really big, and the sushi is really fresh (My husband is half Japanese and confirmed the "freshness of the sushi") The price is affordable as well. The other food they serve such as their yakisoba is delicious!

    (5)

  • Vanessa G.

    For my first sushi experience in this town I was very impressed with the size of the portions at Saburo's. But that was about all I was impressed by. It is, however, enough to sustain a three star rating because the quality was also good enough. So there is a small mathematical equation going on in my head about the amount of food you get for your money divided by quality and wait time or some other such nonsense. I went with a group of four and we ordered several pieces of nigiri including, eel, salmon, yellowtail, tuna and mackeral. We also ordered a cucumber roll, spicy tuna roll, and a sunset roll. Also ordered, two large beers and two large sakes. And then we all went to town, stuffing ourselves silly. After we stuffed and we stuffed and we stuffed, we still went home with two boxes of leftovers. Overall I was happy with my experience here, despite the hour long wait and less than charming atmosphere. I do find it a little unsettling to take sushi home because it doesn't seem to fare all that well as leftovers. And even though it is a deal to get such unbelievably big portions, I can't help but better enjoy the quaintness of being able to put an entire piece of sushi in my mouth and taste all of the elements of a well constructed roll.

    (3)

  • TanyaKatt G.

    This used to be my all time favorite sushi place, awesome sushi, great service, etc....NOW....no way! The portions are still huge and the fish is still fresh but the customer service sucks.....its too bad that they have allowed this place to go so down hill. Part of delivering a great meal to a customer is customer service and if the customer service isnt there I don't really care how big or how fresh the fish is....I won't go there again.

    (1)

  • Jen g.

    Super-sized rolls. Fresh tasting and very flavorful!! Great prices, long wait times

    (4)

  • stacey k.

    If you are waiting in line for quality sushi you shouldn't. This place is for huge rolls. Period. Service is efficient. Sushi rolls are ok. There were 5 of us and we took home far too much food. Who eats sushi leftovers?! Try it once for the novelty. Go somewhere else for quality fish.

    (3)

  • E T.

    Are you the patient type? You have to expect to have a long wait. This is a place to have an "experience." The sushi is HUGE. Every time I go, I forget I always have leftovers. LEFTOVERS!!! When my family or friend comes from Japan, they want to go to Saburo, because it is such a unique experience. Inexpensive, huge, good sushi. Since Saburo has to sell a lot to make ends meet, the service feels a little rushed. But it is understandable. If you want to have a luxurious, relaxed sushi experience, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you want to have good sushi to your heart's content and don't mind an hour's wait outside of the restaurant, you should definitely try it.

    (4)

  • Jamie W.

    I'm unsure if I should give this place 5 stars or 1 star. It's like an old friend that I'm mad at. So it gets 3 stars. This used to be my favorite place to eat sushi. It's always been a long wait, and always a bit crowded, but if it's just you and a date or a double date it's survivable. The portion size is fabulous! The hand rolls are giant, the sushi and rolls are huge, and the salmon skin salad is amazing. HOWEVER. It has become so popular and they are open only a few hours a day, that until they expand I will never go back. It has gone from bearable to worse than the lines on a Black Friday morning with a slap in the face at the end. Last time we went we waited in line for almost 2 hours (it used to be 30min-1hr.), we finally made it in only 20 minutes until closing. We ordered our food and handed it to the waitress. We waited and waited and watched many people get their food ahead of us. Finally people started leaving and they started cleaning up and we still didn't get our food. The waitress never even put our order in or it was lost. THEN, she rushed us through ordering & we didn't even get what we originally wanted. And to top it off there was no discount at all... the waitress thought she was being so nice by simply offering us a free refill on our soda pop. Woopdie doo. We spend $70 that night and had a terrible experience. I will never go back as long as they are operating as they are. Our new favorite: Takahashi. In fact, I'm going to head over to give them a five star review now.

    (3)

  • Khanh T.

    One of my fav sushi restaurants I've ever been to! I will admit NEVER go there on a saturday night because you will have to expect to wait for at least 2 hours. The portions are massive and the price is great. I would normally spend 30 to 40 bucks at a sushi restaurant but if you eat at Saburos expect to spend no more then 30 for twice the size. Of course I've had better fish but this is me being a food snob and tried many sushi restaurants. But Saburos definately meets my expectations and more. This is a must try.

    (5)

  • Claudia P.

    Went there twice in three days because my bf who is originally from OR is a crazy fan. The first time, we waited for about 45 mins, and the second time was twice as long as the first time! I heard we were luck to have to wait for just 45 mins for the first time! The portion was twice as big as what you would normally have at other Japanese restaurants. Didn't try Americanized rolls. Only ordered traditional maki, nigiri and sashimi. So my opinion can only applied to these categories. Quality wise, it will not be top notch. But value wise, it is no doubt the best ever!! Given the above-average quality, the price is exceptionally low. I was stunned when I saw the Unagi, which turned out to be my favorite at Saburo. The only disappointment was the toro which did not live up to my expectation of otoro. Even though it's much cheaper that other places, i rather pay additional bucks for better grade. Other than that, nothing to complain. Sea urchins and giant clams were both sweet and fresh. Since these are my must-have items, I would be totally satisfied when they are good. I do agree that some waiters are not as friendly as others. You'd be lucky if your table is served by the friendly ones... but, I'll still stop by next time I go to Portland.

    (5)

  • Ana B.

    I have tried to come to Saburo twice. Once they were " closed for summer vacation " huh? Next they did not open until dinner. Finally I came when they were open and after a 45 min wait I was swept inside. Gauging the size of the place to the size of the people waiting It is my estimation that 45 + min wait should be anticipated if you want to eat here. I ordered 4 rolls which came out to a total of 24$ including a beer! The spicy tuna roll, which is normally a staple classic for me was kinda meh. The Sabu Roll was my favorite. What really made the sushi was the generous portions of fish, the rolls are huge! What really turned me off to the sushi was the use of mayonnaise. I absolutely hate mayonnaise. Strangely enough I was so into the sushi that this did not detour me from plowing through all the rolls. Afterwards I was hit with eaters remorse that I had taken down all that mayonnaise filled sushi. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back..I'm just withholding a star. This place is truly a tiny treasure. Very Tiny..so tiny in fact that they pack the tables together so that you feel like you're eating with a bunch of strangers. I found myself nervously smiling at the people at the next table like I was on an awkward blind date. I felt strangely protective over my food like the person next to me might reach over to try it. There is nothing romantic about being able to touch the elbow of the random person next to you while you eat, so although the food is great I'd refrain from taking a first date here. Arigato Saburo!

    (4)

  • S G.

    I'd been coming to this place at least 10 times a year since 2009, by intentionally driving down from Seattle! Why? Because I always felt so good going to places that are full of crowd, they made huge sushi and that's it! Then, I decided to stop going from now on and I will tell you guys why as following below. Every time I go down there, I brought at least 2 people with me. In order to make everyone's life easier, I got there before they were opened. Put my name down the list and waited patiently. The guy in charge always, almost every time we go there, he let the large group cut the line by giving them table in advance and let us wait longer and enjoy the cold wind (back in winter)!!! Never mind, I never complain! Really never said a single word! Didn't even mention it because I know it's just the way it goes. Nothing personal, it's just business! As many of you may know, they don't really "service" your table, never mind, we go there to join the crowd for chunky sushi, we could tolerate this! Despite all these, every time I eat in there, I always tipped them 30-40% on the bill, even though I knew they already added 15% gratuity on my bill. Why?- Because I used to run a restaurant, I know how things like and I appreciate their hard work! Until last month, I started feeling the "heat" and stop giving them opportunity to treat me like a fool! Someday, sometime in April. We went in there, sat down and ordered our food. After we got our drinks, my friend found some dust in his glass. We called the waiter and told him about it. He took the glass away and returned with a new one. Didn't say a single word, no sorry, no smile, no nothing! I was like, " Okay......you get it taken care of and that's it!". Then, when the sushi came, we found almost half of the food we ordered were absent and got something strange instead, so we told the waitress about it with smiles. You know what happened? She brought the order slip over and said, " This is your order, nobody's done anything wrong here" in HIGH PITCH while giving me a cold stare for approximately 7 seconds!!! Two mins later, they figured out the food on our table was supposed to be at the table behind the bar. Same thing again, not a single word, no smile, no sorry, no nothing! The crew made mistake and we deserve to be treated like this eh? Yelling at me, cold starring me for your co-worker's mistake? Ladies and Gentlemen, you guys be the judge! I was getting a little upset, started losing appetite and I thought may be they were just having a bad day like everyone do once in a while! 20 mins later, our food finally came. We just eat and eat and eat until we were full! When we got our check, we saw the food previously served (the ones that wasn't ours) appeared on the list. We told the same waitress about it and asked for boxes. You know what? She showed us an angry face! I was like, " Am I the one who print the bill or I am the one who typed in the order?"!!!!! She returned with an updated check silently and left, just like that! Yea, just like that! Where are our boxes? Shall we just bring the left over home on plate? We then asked the guy if he could get us the boxes and he gave us straight away. Right at that second, the waitress came back to our table with boxes and when she saw we already had boxes, she said, " You already have boxes, why did you ask for twice!" Those young chicks at next table looked at us and I found their jaws were about to drop! The waitress then walked to the front and said something in Spanish! I was assuming she must be complaining about me making her run in and out for boxes so I just put my jacket on and left. After we got in the car, my friend who used to live in Madrid told me the waitress was actually bitching about me in Spanish, calling me Chino and go back to China for Peking Duck instead of Sushi bla bla bla stuff like that! And she even cursed me to die soon by consuming so much Wasabi and Soy Sauce. All were said in Spanish! I was offended! Really really offended, but it's okay! Why?- Because, sorry Senorita, I was born in Singapore and I spend most of my life in Europe. Dear Senorita, 1) I treat you with dignity by tipping you and your work crew more than you guys deserved, and I have done nothing wrong to you! So I do think you should treat me with a little respect in return! 2) I didn't make you work at the place that you don't like and deal with the people you don't like. If you are not afraid to admit you are having mental problem due to whatever reason, please go make an appointment with the counselor. Get it treated as soon as possible so you can have a life! 3) I don't know if you ever been to school or not, but even my fitness study says everyone should be morally treated with dignity and my 7 year old cousin just told me names calling is a mean and unnecessary behavior, let alone cursing people to die for boxes! I want you to know this, b'cuz everyone's evolving and you are expected to be one of us

    (1)

  • Justin S.

    I am giving this a 4 star because Yay! I am a fan. This is more of a traditional style sushi place, not over the top with fancy decorations stuffed with minced fish and K-rab. I really enjoy Saburo in the later evening on weekdays because it tends to be less crowded. The tight seating and lack of elbow room are very reminiscent of a Tokyo restaurant. The chefs are Japanese and are very good with their knives. Slicing the fish large and pretty is an art, and it's evident they've practiced. Again the portions are large and for the most part the quality is good. I had some ootoro there the other week and it was delicious. Here is some suggestions that I've found to be consistently good: Shake-toro (salmon belly) Anago Ootoro (Bluefin belly--if available) real crab california roll creamy-hotate (mayo-scallop) Make sure to say Gochisousama after your meal. P.S. My 5-year-old wanted me to let you all know that her favorite is: Tamago!

    (4)

  • Jess P.

    Do not go here on a first date. Go here once your significant other is well accustomed to you stuffing your mouth with too large of portions and having chipmunk face until you've sufficiently chewed. The portions are humongo. No, no. That doesn't quite explain the enormity of these rolls. The sushi here is some kind of rice roll/titan hybrid. Ginormo. Ridiculo. but, Delicioso. As a disclaimer- I am a vegetarian sushi enthusiast. I loved sushi before I quit eating meat, and I still want to get my fix, just sans fish. The vegetarian selection is limited (as should be expected) but there are some good choices. My favorite was just the simple avocado roll. The seaweed salad was also delectable. My friend got the sashimi and he said it was delicious and by far the biggest portion he has ever received. The service is a bit slow because the place is packed! But considering the amount of people, I think the food came out relatively quick. It isn't my favorite sushi place in Portland. But the place is still quite tasty and the portions (have I mentioned?) are gigantuam. Seriously, we're talking Hulk here. You wouldn't like them when they're mad.

    (3)

  • C L.

    What's not to love when sushi goes extra large? This is one of those times when size does matter! Recommend: creamy scallops, dragon roll, Alaskan roll. Be prepared to wait in line. We came on a Tue night and waited 40 mins. Also, you can only order ONCE!

    (4)

  • Becky L.

    I come here on a weekly basis. I always make sure to order 2 sets of sashimi (salmon and yellow tail) and half order of oysters. Of course I order much more, but those are my favorite dishes at Saburos! The line sucks, but it's totally worth it.

    (5)

  • Andrew A.

    Big ass-sized sushi does not a great sushi make. Yes, it's tasty and a good value, but Restaurant Murata dominates on taste. The soft shell crab appetizer was not appetizing. The signature roll with tempura shrimp and avacado was good. The rule that you can't order more than once is understandable, but a bit unfriendly. The wait sucks!

    (2)

  • Christina L.

    Haven't been in a while but I love it every time we get the chance to go. I think this is one restaurant where their hype translates into their ambiance, if that makes any sense. Their service is good and they get to you quickly. The line is a bit of a hassle, but it's part of the fun, I think. Food is goooooood.

    (5)

  • Jenna S.

    I just moved back to Portland from Tokyo, and I missed Saburo's while I was there...that is how much I love this restaurant!!! The wait is ridiculously long especially if you go with more than 2 people...but the key is make friends with the staff...they will bend over backwards for you if you become a true regular. I have had them bend rules for me a lot... Then you can zip around the corner to the Lime Light bar while you wait. Sitting outside salivating through the window for 1+ hours is for the amateurs, now its just a part of the tradition to go to the limelight for a tasty pre-sushi-funking cocktail. By the end of it your liquored up, sushi-ed out, and rolling out the door with leftovers. My favorites on the menu by far best thing ever: hawaiian roll ... rolled in cucumber a spicy tuna filling..... Salmon nigiri, albacore nigiri, unagi nigiri (although eat it as soon as it comes out while its warm or it gets rubbery), Oh and the pink bottle of cold Nigori sake. The bottle is really cool and the sake is my favorite!. But be careful, this place can spoil you...once you stuff yourself for $10 with leftovers, its hard to go to other places where you drop $20+ and don't get nearly as much.

    (5)

  • Johnny V.

    It's a shame you can't eat here without a line, and feeling you're getting rushed out, to seat other people waiting in line. It's a great sushi place, though. You can eat fish like a crazed pelican, and get full for a reasonable price.

    (5)

  • Suzy S.

    The first time I went here, I had just moved to Portland and when I did a search found this to be one of the closer places. I called to order some to-go and the hostess answered. She basically told me to come in and order, and hung up on me. Fine....OK....I'll come in. So in I went to this super crowded restaurant, with no sign out front, next door to a shoe repair shop. I did my best to stand out of the way while I waited. Busy employees zoomed past me, nearly knocking me over while I thought, "NEVER again will I eat here!!". Finally my order was ready and I drove my few miles home in a snit. When I saw the size of the portions I was shocked, but hey, size isn't everything. One bite into the fresh Hamachi, and I was sold. The flavor and texture was amazing! OK, fine, they do that well, but what about the rest? The rest was just as amazing. I was a devoted customer. I learned to plan for the wait, and wait I did- usually in the rain. I became a weekly visitor and eventually I wore the terse hostess down. She would actually smile and say hello to me, comment on my hair cuts, and show me warmth and kindness. Never did she show me any favoritism, nor did I expect her to, but I loved the looks of disbelief from other patrons when they watched us quickly chit chat. I felt like Kramer and the Soup Nazi.

    (5)

  • Nicole L.

    In my book, you can't get any better quality for the price!! Yes, if you go there at the wrong time, you'll be stuck in line for 45 mins or more, but if you hit it just right you can get right in. If you want to be stuffed with sushi and you're on a budget, I highly recommend you check out Saburos.

    (5)

  • Christopher A.

    Wow! I've lived in Japan for four years and thought I'd seen everything sushi-wise. But I have to say that Saburo's bowled me over. It is quite simply the largest servings of nigiri-zushi I have ever seen. Not only are they brimming over the edges of the rice, the cuts are thick and absolutely succulent. The quality of the fish itself is amazing and served at the perfect temperature to enhance flavor. It is best to arrive at 4:30 or so if you don't want to wait in line. When the doors open pretty much everyone there is seated very quickly. But because so many people love this restaurant, arriving any other time usually results in a stomach churning wait. Saburo's has changed the way I think of sushi. I'm spoiled for life.

    (5)

  • Joowon K.

    Huge sushi but disgusting. Sooo disappointed.

    (1)

  • Annette V.

    Not my cup of soy sauce. The wait is super long, portions are strangely HUGE and not that flavorful, and the tables are so close that you feel like you're intruding on the next table's conversation! The tuna is a strange hot pink color I'm not used to seeing and as I'm eating the Unagi, I can't help but wonder how large this eel must have been for this slice to be as big as a snack sized snickers bar! Overall, I feel this sushi is better photographed than consumed. The pictures are gorgeous, but my stomach would prefer to go elsewhere- without the wait.

    (2)

  • Bella L.

    HUGE sushi! I'm a totally a fan of Saburo's. The portions are huge for its price and freshness/quality of fish is excellent. I'm not sure why some reviews would say that the fish is not fresh. If that's the case, then Saburo's is overpriced and should not be making sushi. Anyways, 5-6 orders take up a 14 inch plate so we always have leftovers. Every time my hubby and I come here, I always make it a point to take a picture and post it on my FB. It looks like a piece of art!

    (4)

  • Maggie L.

    This place is definitely going downhill in service! I have been there a few times and this will be the last, I will not be going back. All the hassle of waiting in line then to be treated without any service at all is preposterous! To top it off, make sure you check you bill before you pay - they added one item I didn't order and didn't take away an item that they were out! After spending over $100..... I will go somewhere else for my sushi!

    (1)

  • Khang D.

    The foods are great and worth waiting, must be here at least 30 mins before their open hour. However, the staffs are a little bit too uptight and rushing. We still enjoy the foods regardless. Yummy!

    (3)

  • Paul S.

    Wow! With all the hype and the long lines I expected some decent sushi. Even if I were to excuse the hour plus wait, the cramped environment inside and the rushed feeling of the dining experience, I couldn't give them over a 2 star rating. This isn't sushi, it's huge slabs of blah fish on blah rice crammed onto a plate. The should forgo the chopsticks as they have the art of sushi, and give you a fork and steak knife with which to stuff your face. Ah well, with as many high ratings as they get it is obvious to each their own. Me, no thanks.

    (1)

  • ANTHONY L.

    Place is under new ownership. You want extra wasabi, ginger or other sauces look to pay an extra 50 cents to a dollar each. How much does it really cost for these things? Do you really need to nickel and dime your customers? I've been coming here for over 10 years and thought this was absurd. There is a girl that handles the flow of traffic and takes orders. She is overbearing and borderline annoying...we were almost done with our meal and some people came in... She pointed to our table and said when they leave this will be your table. Deliberated or not that was rude because we're still eating and she was rushing us by doing that. She shouldn't be in the service industry... She should work at a Chinese restaurant because that's where you don't typically expect great service... So the check comes... Automatic gratuity.... That was the last straw for me. After being a loyal customer for over 10 years I had it...tips are supposed to be earned... With automatic gratuity u get sh*tty service I thought the food quality was still the same but it wasn't worth it with all the Cons... Not coming back... You used to be my favorite sushi place.. Goodbye

    (1)

  • Sheena Y.

    Godzilla sized sushi! I mean the Nigiri Sushi is literally the size of a grown man's palm. My family and I drove all the way from Seattle, WA and we waited for quite awhile to just eat at this establishment. The wait was worth the food, and it's not just gimmicky super sized sushi that you are getting. It's actually super sized sushi that is quality, so for once you CAN get quality and quantity. The demand is high for dining here, so you have to understand the service, and if you do.... then you're dining experience will be A-OK! If you're around the Portland area, SABURO!!!!

    (5)

  • Nam N.

    Update: 1 stars now. service is just worst and worst with the big asian lady with glasses. Can't stand her. Her service just makes me hate this place. Previous 3 star review: This is actually my favorite sushi spot. $30 for two people and you will be stuffed for days with to-go in hand. Almost all the other reviewers are right on with all their comments about how wonderful this place is, or the long wait, or giant cuts of sashimi, so I will not repeat again- Three Stars - but for why? Just plain-old-terrible service-and I am not blaming the servers but the owners. I am Asian, I am use to and even okay with bad service but when its created by greedy owners its not okay. 1. You will get bad service because their are only 3 servers for about 100 people inside and 50 people inline waiting - these poor overworked people because the owner is too cheap to hire more. 2. You want ginger? Spicy Mayo Sauce? Wasabi? That will cost you $1 each. What the in holy Japanese restaurant being run my Koreans is this? It's like getting charged for ketchup at Red Robins or BBQ Sauce at AppleBees. 3. Gratuity Charge for bad service when dining for two -no comment needed 4. To-Go Order? That's a FEE 5. That Calamari was really good eh? How about I order another order one - Nope - Its like decisions in life sometimes you only get one chance - Order ONCE only no exceptions! 5 Stars for Food - 1 star for bad service = 3 stars To be fair - I will probably still come eat here, however probably not as often as I should be.

    (1)

  • Terry W.

    A friend kept on me to go back. It didn't change my mind much. There is no denying the portions constitute a great value. They are cartoon-like in size, just massive cuts of fish. Downside? Nothing was bad, but nothing stood out again. Nothing was sliced from an actual cut of fish, they pre-slice everything I saw and the result appeared to result in flavorless salmon, bland hamachi, middling uni, massive, but again, bland cuts of albacore. Nothing stale, but nothing with even a hint of ocean freshness. Good for a cheap fill-up, but only if one lines up at 440pm or so. I wouldn't ever wait in line here. It would be akin to lining up to eat at King's Buffet where the mission and one's expectations go little beyond stuffing one's self for as cheaply as possible. Miso was good, service was brisk, but friendly, but it was early and not slammed at the time. It's not snobby in the least to say there is much, much better sushi about anywhere else in town. But if you want sushi you can't even fit in your pie-hole, then this is your place. Have at it. PS Came back a week later, as I had business in the neighborhood. This time I kept it simple and ordered the 3 variety (you pick it) sashimi. Much better with no rice to fill you up too much, just fish. Actually, the hamachi and salmon was pretty good and fresh.

    (2)

  • Lauren G.

    I. Love. This. Place. I don't mind the wait - it just makes me more excited about the disneyland-size sushi I will be devouring. Service can be a bit iffy - but other than that, great things!

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    The Good: Definitely interesting...huge pieces of sushi and gigantic rolls at okay prices. The Bad: Way too big. Sushi is supposed to be a one-bite thing and meant to be a light meal. The rice portion is doubled, so you just feel stuffed (in a bad way). There is also almost always a line, so definitely not worth it. Try: it just because these big pieces are unique. Don't Try: ordering twice. It seems that you only get one chance to order (in the beginning) and that's it.

    (2)

  • Kenny J.

    OMG, so GOOD and CHEAP! The holy grail of dining, so definitely 5 stars in my book. Yes, yes, everyone will rant and complain about the wait. It's soooo worth it! Go to Kay's and a grab a pint or stop by Starbucks while you wait. Don't worry if you're away too long and they cross your name off, they're nice about getting you a table once you return. I was in town on a last minute business trip and a friend took me here for dinner. 1) River Eel - Such a generous piece of eel. It's seriously like 2x the size of the rice underneath. LOL! 2) Spicy Tuna - A standard staple, and executed perfectly. 3) CA/Crab Roll - Another staple, very good as well. 4) Hawaiian Roll - My favorite! It has spicy tuna and a few other things, and has a thin cucumber shell on the outside. Delicious! 5) Karate Roll - Another delicious special roll. A mix of a few kinds of fish, I forgot which ones, but I think it included chopped hamachi. The portions are gigantic. Definitely American sized. We could barely finish and had to will our stomachs to victory. Afterwards, we could hardly walk. lol! Prepare your mentally and physically to totally pig out on some delicious sushi. And don't worry about the cost because it's so cheap! Our dinner was about $25, so I left a generous tip. A true gem. I wish I could find a place like this in the Bay Area... ;P Next time I'm in Portland, I'll definitely have to go back to Saburo's. :D

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    The wait for a table is horrible. The wait to get inside is terrible. The parking lot is like fitting a rectangle into a square piece (it's possible one way yet not another, but it's shitty). If you have no idea what you want ahead time, the wait is even longer for food because over half the people already know what they want... WHO CARES?! This is my favorite sushi place, though I don't come her often because all of the above. The food is GOOD. It's the whole experience of waiting for a hole-in-the-wall place and getting more than what you paid for. Gigantic pieces to stuff your face, stories shared waiting or while eating with your friends. It's great! Although, some downfalls would be 2 cards per 6 a table. Service is sometimes slow... It's not authentic sushi, but it's damn good enough. Though authentic sushi should be able to fit in your mouth in one piece, meh... Go to Japan. America is all about BIG BIG BIG - and you've got BIG BIG BIG rolls (eh, no pun intended). If you love squid, the squid sunomo is delish! The special rolls on a seperate sheet are great to choose from; and I have to admit, salmon sashimi is my weakness. Don't forget to try the big 'ol roll - for some reason it's ALWAYS a special. They don't have the spicy sauce (mayo & rooster)... And they kinda fail at knowing how to make it - but overall, nothing can beat the price and amount of food. It's fun taking out of town friends here since I don't recall a place like this anywhere else. If you're scared about waiting in line cause it's rainy, it's too hot, it's whatever - suck it up, you'll thank yourself for it.

    (5)

  • Nichole H.

    I love Saburos. Yes, the line is freakin long EVERY single night, but it is worth every minute. The portions, quality and price are excellent. I really like the ordering system, how you write what you want on the actual menu. The signature big O roll is delicious. The calamari is out of this world. Actually, pretty much all the rolls are out of this world. All the bad reviews because of the long lines are bogus...just go there expecting to wait and savor every bite. :)

    (4)

  • Coco L.

    They expanded, so more seats. However, the trick still is go early and wait for it to open. Otherwise, don't bother as long long wait!! They open at 5pm on weekday, and 4:30 on weekend. If you are at the restaurant ~15min before it open, you can ensure to have seat!! The portion has become smaller since I first came here years ago :( but still bigger portion than most of the sushi places. This is still my favorite sushi place in PDX!! Skip the sashimi and halibut sushi... The halibut sushi was pretty thin. Each fish of sashimi was only half size of the sushi ... Just stick with the sushi! Also don't expect much services

    (3)

  • Davis C.

    Make sure you take a picture of the menu because they snatch it away from you real fast. And you can't have more than two menus if you wanna split the check. But otherwise it's a pretty good place

    (2)

  • T N.

    People forget what the meaning of great food and service is. A place that once people enjoyed coming to for the quality of the food and feeling of family owned place have a become a horrible horrible place. Not only have the food have decrease but the service is just straight up un-call for and beyond horrible. since when does a restaurant automatically add gratituity for four people unless its something automatic because of a toddler because if that is the case, that is so wrong in so many ways. Tips is earned for the service and should not be an obligation to the customer. Who wants to reward something who can't even remember to get napkins or another pair of chopsticks. Who rolls there eyes because extra ginger is asked for. Condiments for a dish should not have to be extra money especially when a meal averages over one hundred dollars. Its a friggin sushi place for God sake, is it really necessary to charge someone spicy sauce or ginger for a massive plate of sushi! Unbelievable!!!!! Its like going to a steak house and asking for A One sauce and getting charge for it. Since have restaurants become penny and dimes! a place that gets so much business. Its ridiculous how policy are made up every time I come and its not informed to customers properly. Gratuity for a bill $100+ or 4 or more people. No more than 2 menu or credit card per a table. Can't order a second time, Being stare at and rushed while eating. Servers taking your plates away or tries to before you could even finish your food when clearly there is still food on the plate. i get that its a small place and you need a fast turn around time for other customers but doesn't mean to rush people like a fast food joint! This used to be a must go to place but I advised all who consider coming to think twice unless you are up for a horrible meal. Meaning the food may be great but the service just totally ruins it! I hope the owner reads this and that people stop coming. Its time to change your greediness for money and go back to how you got so popular!!!!!!

    (1)

  • Andrew K.

    If I could, I'd give 0 stars but 1 is the minimum. I have never been treated so badly and humiliated at a restaurant in my life. I understand it's busy and I can wait. I order a pitcher of asahi and large hot sake for me and my girlfriend and he questions me if I really wanted a pitcher... Yes I ordered correctly. Secondly we ask if the udon has broth and the server said yes so we ordered it. It comes out as a stir-fry... Strike 2. We didn't order a lot since we knew how big their portion was but figured we should order one more nigiri. The hostess/waitress said "we told you it's last call" when nobody told us anything. She brushes it off as if was a joke. Strike 3! She was very loud and annoying for us to enjoy our dinner. Other tables were getting decent service and I felt we should too. We are customers too! Plus they charged us for spicy mayo!! Who does that? Since our experience was so bad I just paid for the bill and left 0 tip. I'm a server/bartender, you should always treat your customers with respect equally! To top the night off, that same lady comes barging out of the restaurant yelling we're not welcome. EXCUSE ME? Since when is it ok to say that to a customer when you didn't do crap for our table? Tip is earned, not given! She pulls out its our "owner's rule" to tip and I said show me! She points to the sign where it says "we have the right to refuse service" what a joke. That has nothing to do with the quality of service and tips earned. I hope the manager or owner is reading this because she is incredibly RUDE and OBNOXIOUS! Anyways, food was ok. Not the freshest sushi but good. Overall you guys gotta do something about service and that lady!!!

    (1)

  • Samantha T.

    DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY. This was the second time I've been here and it will be my very last! As soon as my boyfriend and I got there, the first thing we noticed was this very obnoxious female server with short hair trying to regulate the people on the waiting list. If you know about this place, you will know that there is a long wait time. I am okay with waiting but I am definitely not okay with horrible service. All 3 of the servers that were working that night were very rude. We ordered some sushi and udon noodles. The girl next to our table had some udon noodles that were in a broth which looked good so I asked the male server who was taking our order if the udon noodles have broth similar to the lady next to me? he said "YES it does have broth." Our food comes out and the udon noodles are stir-fry style. I immediately brought it to his attention that my order was wrong and that I did not want this item anymore. He said "We don't take back orders". I demanded that he take it back as it was clearly his mistake. After that, the rest of our sushi came out and we noticed a abnormal color in the uni. Even the couple that was sitting close to us who used to live in Japan said it looked weird. After we finished our food we wanted to share one more seared albacore so we asked the waitress with longer hair and she said "Sorry we can't take your order, we already did last call." We told her that no one said anything about last call so after pulling teeth, she took our order. BIG DEAL. ONE freakin nigiri. Then later, we noticed that the guys next to us left and we heard that obnoxious waitress say out loud "Next time you see them, don't serve them! They are not allowed here!" I gave her a strange look because of her lack of professionalism and she said "What! We have the right to refuse service to anyone!" At this point, we were done and ready to go. Our bill came out to be around $55 and we noticed that they charged us extra for spicy mayo. Are you kidding me? Why not just charge us extra for wasabi too? Oh hell, Just charge us for soy sauce while you're at it. We had plenty of cash to leave tip if we wanted but I told my boyfriend not to tip as I felt that they did not deserve it one bit. As we left the restaurant, that obnoxious waitress came chasing after us. She said "You guys cannot come here again!! It is required to pay tip!!" Excuse me lady, but tips are earned!! That explains why they have such poor customer service because they think they will get tipped regardless of how they treat their customers! She does not have to tell us twice not to come here. We will never go back again nor will recommend this place to anyone.

    (1)

  • Pascal P.

    Saburo's is decent but nothing amazing. The only special thing about this place is the size of the sushi they serve you. It's a lot of food for the price but I don't feel like it's entirely worth the very long wait and the not so pleasant atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Eric H.

    OH. MY. GAHH. When we arrived, there was a line waiting for the doors to open. Sadly, my girlfriend and I were one group late and was the first group on the wait list. The restaurant is pretty small, but the wait is totally worth it. After being sat the waitress kept sweating us to order.. but even with the small restaurant and the heckling of the waitress, the size and taste of the food TOTALLY negates EVERYTHING else. I have been to quite a few sushi places, and this place is right up there with freshness and taste. MUST go back. Very excited.

    (5)

  • Selena P.

    My sister raved about this place and she goes there everytime she visits Portland. With me being a sushi lover, it was only natural that I would try this place out. Now if you've never been there, there is always a line, especially before they open. When the bf and I got there (15 minutes before it opened) there was a line wrapped around the corner and down the side of the building. A daunting wait for a tiny place such as this! As the doors opened and people flooded the restaurant we were astonished to find out that we were the second to last table filled before you had to wait for a table to open up. SWEET! We sat down and surveyed the menu. The Big-O roll, yakitori, the Hawaiian Roll, California roll (with real crab!), 2 orders of fresh salmon nigiri and one order of unagi. Oh. My. God!!!! Not only was everything fresh...it was HUGE!!!! One of the unagi was almost as long as my chopstick!! Out of this world size of cut! The portion sizes are amazing deals for the price, I would expect twice the price for what we got and the quality was great as well. If you love sushi and are looking for a great meal that is easy on the pocketbook, then this is your place!

    (5)

  • Joshua C.

    While most think the "Civil War" takes place in Eugene or Corvallis there's another going on right here. Saburo's is a yelp ratings battleground that like most war's has at least two distinctly disparate sides. The Lover's argue that it's worth the wait. That the rolls are HUGE, the cuts of fish are HUGE, the platters are HUGE. They love that it's cheap. They claim the fish there is fresh, and that the sushi is the best. They fire off five and four stars like they're going out of style. The Hater's argue that it's not worth the wait. That the rolls are HUGE, the cuts of fish are HUGE, the platters are HUGE. They like that it's cheap. They claim the fish there isn't fresh, and that the sushi is the worst. They fire off barrages of one and two stars like Martha Stewart handing out criticism. So having read all this I met up here for dinner with some friends and will now add my generally less than humble opinion to the war. Sixteen years ago I didn't like sushi so would have hated it regardless. Fifteen to Eleven years ago I would have thought as the Lover's do. At the time I thought great sushi was paper thin slices of fish on cold rice served on a conveyor belt. Saburo's would have been a revelation. Ten year's ago I happened to stop in at Sushi Masa (a tiny little place in Honolulu yelp.com/biz/sushi-masa-… ) and my concept of good sushi (perhaps even my life) was forever changed. This is when I became a Hamachi addict (I'd attend HA meetings if such a group existed). This is when I went from mild mannered Joshua C to Super Sushi Snob. I've spent the last decade eating and studying great sushi and I'll be honest with you....I'm with the Hater's....this ain't it. I knew from the reviews and pictures what side I'd land in, but I'm open to giving places a try and the people we were meeting were cool. Sushi is about balance, subtlety, freshness, and perfection. None of which can be found here. While most people focus on the fish, great sushi begins with great rice. Here the rice was under seasoned (read bland) and overcooked (mushy texture). The rolls and nigiri were sloppily formed, so much so that despite their mushiness were they were still falling apart. Additionally there was just too much rice, I ended up leaving about half of it on my plate. Logically (and definitely) economically you'd think getting bigger slices of fish would be a good thing. In the world of great sushi, it's not. Nigiri should be bite sized (meaning you should be able to fit the whole thing in your mouth without choking). The fish wasn't the freshest to begin with and only got worse since it's served on large platters and just sat out for a while. Ideally nigiri should be eaten immediately after the sushi-ya puts the cold fish on the warm rice. The nigiri for all there size had really minuscule amounts of wasabi. And as with the nigiri the rolls were also too large and hastily constructed. You'd think from this review that I probably hated my visit. That I sat their agonizing each bite, I didn't. I've come to accept that there'll be times when hanging out with friends will mean eating less than stellar food. I decided years ago in my "foodie career" that if I was going to choose to be somewhere I wouldn't waste my time or money being pissed off. I knew what to expect going in, so instead focused in on the great company. Saburo's is cheap enough (as far as sushi goes) that I wouldn't have been upset to have paid, but thankfully one of our generous friends took care of the check. Would I return were I paying and it was up to me to pick a place? No way. I can see how the other side loves this place, had I never experienced anything better I might have too. I even considered giving it Three Stars out of consideration for those that don't know any better, but will instead just rate it as it deserves. From an authentic sushi purist's perspective this isn't great sushi, in fact it's not even good...so...Two Stars (For horrific One Star sushi action check out yelp.com/biz/makoto-sush… ).

    (2)

  • Beth B.

    Go. It's good for you to have to wait for something in life. You can fiddle on your iphone while you wait in line, thus satisfying your need for instant gratification. Once you get it in, then you can race to get your order in. Salmon belly is a must. It melts in your mouth and there are not too many foods you can truly say that about. (Never understood the "melt in your mouth, not in your hands slogan..they always melt in your hands!) I digress. Order more than you think you will ever eat, so you can take some home to enjoy for a 1am snack.

    (4)

  • Sherry Y.

    Does great sushi exist in Portland? If it does then I have yet to find it. But Saburo is a decent substitute. It's a nice little neighborhood place. The wait is so long (an hour, no joke). I like that they have hamachi kama and agi dashi. The wait staff is usually super friendly, however the Asian woman I had gave us attitude when I asked that she bring me the rice that I had ordered and my SO asked for more ginger when I was there last week. This time around on Friday, she asked us if we were ready to order (we had already been sitting there for 10 minutes and had someone else take our order). Later she took the empty plates of the table next to us and left ours there, but that's ok, someone else took them. Maybe she hates bi-racial couples because everyone else there is super nice and helpful. The 'sushi' is enormous (twice the size of other places). I always leave stuffed for a really reasonable price. The wait is so long and it's so far away, but otherwise it'd be the place to be.

    (4)

  • T. N.

    I really love this place! Too bad the line up is so long and is far from where I live but the wait is worth it. The first time we came here, we were blown away by the portions of our sushi. We knew ahead of time that it was going to be big but it was still shocking! The fishs tastes very fresh and I love their Spider Roll. Their spicy tuna roll is yummy too. I want to go there tomorrow in fact but I don't know what the hubby will say...I've been craving for sushi almost everyday.

    (5)

  • Nobu B.

    I've eaten at many Sushi places. Saburos still remains at the top of the list of best ever. The fish isn't always the best. But who cares? It is huge portions for very cheap. The yellow tail is always melt in the mouth fresh, and the tempura is spiced wonderfully. I also recommend the striped bass, the miso, and the cucumber salad. Yes, the wait can be indecent for a Portland joint (longest I've waited for a table was about an hour). There are also the times when I've driven by and had to get food there because I noticed there was no line. It depends on the day and the time. Also on other people's patience. The more people decide that the wait isn't worth it, the closer I get to eating time. I give it 5 stars because if I wanted good portions with super fresh fish every time for cheap and no waiting in line, well, I'd make my own sushi at home.

    (5)

  • Ivan M.

    Saburos doesn't have the best or most authentic sushi in Portland by any stretch, but considering the size of the portions they give you, as well as their awesome prices, they easily merit a 5 star review. I would recommend the yellow tail nigiri, the seaweed salad and the spider roll for those that have never been to Saburo's before.

    (5)

  • Rob G.

    My favorite sushi restaurant. No other place comes close.

    (5)

  • Lapis E.

    The King Kong of sushi!" It wouldn't be getting so many reviews if people weren't going. Yes, the waiting line for a table is ridiculous and it's freakin cold (during the winter eves) because it's outside. Bring a snack, jacket and umbrella for the inevitable wait or like others say, go for a walk and have a beer up the street in the pub. Just don't forget to get your name on the list! After an hour or so you'll be happily seated at your table gawking at your neighbor's plate of sushi. Make sure to order all that you will need during your waiter's first trip. After that if you want more sushi it will be hell trying to yield your waiter and if you get it...another long wait. I love all of the huge pieces of fish. I've never seen rolls or slabs of fish bigger than here. And I think it tastes great too! It might not be the highest grade of fish though it's still sashimi/sushi grade which means it's edible and tasty enough to satisfy a huge sushi fan like me. Look around you before ordering so that you know how much to order. Get there early, right when they open if you don't want to wait too long. Weekends are especially busy.

    (5)

  • Nancy K.

    This is my least favorite sushi place so far that I've been to in the greater Portland area. A few reasons are because the long wait and they pack you in there like sardines. But the main reason I avoid this place like the plague is that I can't stand that they serve gigantic rolls. When I have sushi - I like to be able to get a variety. At Saburo's I can only order about 3 rolls because they are so enormous. This is one of the few cases where bigger IS NOT better.

    (2)

  • Camille Y.

    Saburo's totally delivers on my vision of sushi in the Pacific Northwest: ultra fresh, generous portions of fish for an unbeatable price. Sure, sushi purists will probably complain about the indelicateness of the completely HUGE cuts of fish, the lack of restraint and artfulness etc. etc. They're absolutely not wrong, but for sheer gluttonous gastronomic satisfaction and bang for your buck? Woohoo -- this is as good as it gets, anywhere!!! Come here to feast on nigiri, and you won't be disappointed -- you can find sloppy/fried/saucy rolls anywhere. The torosake (salmon belly) was hands down the all-time BEST -- and probably biggest -- piece of sushi I've ever had the pleasure of eating. And I eat a lot of sushi. Incredibly sweet and fresh and sooo decadently rich and fatty (at least it's omega 3s), it simply melted onto my tongue! Hamachi was a standout as well. Our party of 2 waited no longer than 20 minutes to be seated on a Friday evening shortly after the restaurant opened for dinner. But I would probably still give this place 5 stars even if I had to wait 2 hours.

    (5)

  • Gina T.

    Best super sized sushi restaurant I have ever been to! My 2 favorites are the salmon belly and philly crunchy roll. If you come to this restaurant then you definitely must try the salmon belly - I have never taste anything like it before! It's super tender~ Sadly there are some cons that this restaurant has...like what many other reviews said, you may need to wait over an hour to get in. My advice is to go on mon-thurs. Busy times are a hit or miss. There are tables available sometimes when you walk in but other times you need to wait 30min-1hour. If you want to play safe, arrive 15-30min early before opening time. It's always busy on fri-sun so it's better to try and make it to the first wave so arrive 30min before opening time. Another con is that you can only order once during their busy times and some of the servers will get upset when you ask for to-go boxes. Nevertheless, saburo still deserves 5 star since you get more than your money's worth when you go there and there is 1 exceptional server! If you go there often, you'll know who I'm talking about. He'll be willing to get whatever you order/want without being rude like some of the other servers who work there.

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    I was told that this is the best place for sushi in Portland...so I went. I like the TORO, and I'm so glad they had it...because that was pretty much all that was good. The rest were....just ok...and they put sooooo much rice with the sushi I ended up just eating the fish part towards the end. Oh, but their Shrimp Purses are yummy!!! Love it.

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    Went here based on a friends recommendation and boy was it worth it! Now as all others reviews stated to expect LONG WAITS, we showed up at 9p on Saturday night and waited only 15 minutes!! They close at 10, so by 930 it was half empty and people were walking in for late dinner no waiting (tip) Fast service, and portions were HUGE! Seriously I was shocked! Plus the pricing was cheap! Then I thought, it must be bad quality fish....but to my surprise, it was pretty darn good! I live in Hawaii so I have high expectations, but this place gets 2 thumbs up! Especially for being sushi in Oregon!! Only downside, it's dinner only, no lunch...bummer. But I will go back for sure!!

    (4)

  • Liz K.

    Amazing!!!! The photos show it all!

    (5)

  • Jessica R.

    The trick to coming to this place is to choose a time where most people are in school and working and are less likely to be out for dinner (mostly weekdays). I would say no matter when you come, expect a wait, but the less people in your party the better. Definitely worth the wait if you are in for some serious grubbing on sushi. Prices are crazy cheap considering the size of the portions that they give. I had sushi in Japan and Hawaii, but I have never seen a cut of sashimi so thick, not to mention the huge size of their rolls. Size was definitely a plus, but it did not conceal the fact that the fish was really fresh and satisfies my sushi cravings in Portland. Recommendations: Crunchy Alaska Roll Salmon Sashimi Hawaiian Roll Tempura Unagi

    (5)

  • Ahadin H.

    IF you are to expect breathtaking interior ambience, delicate sushi-ya aesthetics, polite crowd, great table service, the authentic ceremonial tea, organic wasabi, award winning sake, etc. to compliment the meal, then slowly back out the door, and go elsewhere. If you want to get angrily bit*hslapped by ginormous, un-pretentious, but real legit sashimi/nigiri, because after all these years in Portland you have yet to find that one sushi joint you long so desire, then this is IT. The UGLI-EST nigiris I have ever seen. Also the biggest. So huge their portion, that we (the SO and I) had to request the chef to cut all nigiri rice portions by half. 5 orders later (10 ginormous nigiris), we were defeated. Their handroll needs to be double-fist-handled! We ordered just one of those, that ended up being split for two. By all, means, come hungry. This is the sushi place that will fill you up like the sushi b*tch you are.

    (4)

  • Dawnabelle R.

    I've never seen sushi so big! Came here for dinner. There was a crowd outside so we just wrote our name on the list, walked around the area and grabbed a drink for about 30 mins and we were called in as soon as we got back. The people there are nice. We got our order pretty quickly considering the amount of people dining there. This wasn't the most amazing sushi, but each piece is huge! Our spicy tuna hand rolls looked like mini burritos! The cuts of fish on the sushi were thick and large. We also ordered the albacore sushi, yellowtail sushi, and sunset roll. The fish is fresh and delicious and with the large portions, dining here is definitely a great value!

    (5)

  • hannah k.

    One of my favorite sushi restaurants in PDX! They are a unique sushi place where the nigiri cuts of fish are huge and delicious. One order of nigiri (2 pieces) will equal to about 4 pieces of nigiri at any other sushi restaurant. I always order uni and yellowtail nigiri, Hawaiian Roll, Sabu Roll and Salmon collar. The salmon collar is some of the most delicious salmon i've ever had. It's fatty, soft, so flavorful and i love it. I don't think you could order something here that you wouldn't like. My friend who's a sushi chef said their sushi rice is exceptional!

    (5)

  • Youjung P.

    Bad Service and unjustified Auto Gratuity = dissatisfaction I went to Saburo with my girlfriends to enjoy some delicious sushi. Our experience left me so upset that I needed to write my first Yelp review to warn future diners. We waited over an hour and half which was expected since this restaurant is so popular. Once seated, we were ready to place our order. The waitress informed us that we must order what we want right then because they are too busy to take any additional orders once we get our food. Interesting take on customer service, but we were hungry so we went with it. We eventually received most of our order but were missing one Mt. Hood roll. We attempted to flag down the waitress multiple times to no avail. When she finally came we were already done eating what was brought out. We informed her that one roll did not come. We let her know that we would like to just cancel the order since it had been so long. She told us to wait and she would check on the status. She never came back to our table so I got up to locate her. When I found her she yelled at us and told us no. She said they were already making it and it would be at our table shortly. We waited another 10 minutes and it did not arrive so we flagged her down again. She was surprised it had not come. We told her again not to worry about it and just remove it from our check. We never received the roll and eventually she removed the charge from our receipt. Upon reviewing our receipt we noticed she charged us an automatic gratuity of 15%. Per the menu, the auto-gratuity is assessed on tables of 5 or more or receipts of over $100. We had a table to 4 and our check total was $70.16. We asked the waitress to remove the auto-gratuity. She was not happy with our request. She kindly asked us to make sure we leave her a tip. This was the first time since we had been there that she was friendly. Based on our serious lack of service we decided to leave a $4.00 tip. Honestly, she was lucky we were leaving anything at all. The waitress saw the $4.00 and told us if we gave her $20 she would give us $10 in return because she wanted a $10 tip. Coming from someone who is in the industry, I told her she did not deserve a $10 tip and to be happy we left her $4.00. She then mumbled that they are too busy and they don't need our business. I will never go back to this restaurant again. The sushi was great but the service was horrid. Like I stated earlier, I work in this industry and am appalled by the serious lack of care our waitress had. I could not imagine treating any of my customers in this manner. The owner of this business should be aware of his employees' customer service. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK YOUR RECEIPT TO ENSURE THEY DO NOT CHARGE YOU AN ADJUSTIFIED AUTO GRATUITY.

    (2)

  • douglas h.

    Dinner / Sushi One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Seattle

    (5)

  • Janet R.

    Oh. My. God. This was the greatest sushi place I had been to..the pieces of fish were as big as my chopstick, it was all super fresh, the rolls give you like 8 GIGANTIC pieces, that I couldn't even finish, they gyoza had just enough crunchy cabbage in it to keep me happy, and a cool part about ordering is that you just check it off the menu in dry-erase marker, and just hand it to the waiter. We had to wait about 40 minutes for our table, but it was definately worth it. I will most definately come back next time I am in Portland.

    (5)

  • Bob B.

    Portland's finest. you know place is serious when people in line tell you how to order. That's great but I am extremely antisocial so I prefer not to be talked to by strangers. Good thing they have a list you can write your name on. Service is a little rude, but most Asian ladies are when you come in right before they close. Anyway, stick to nigiri if you are a champion of the world. If not, rolls are whatever your flavor is. You want to impress a visiting sushi champion, this is the place. Also a cheap date, most twigs these days will be sufficed by a California roll and miso soup. Water to drink of course. bang bang'

    (5)

  • jayR f.

    With all the hype I have been hearing about this place. If I could I would give this place a negative rating. I was hoping it would have met or exceeded my expectations. But no this place is the biggest EPIC FAILURE of a sushi restaurant I have ever been to in my life. Seriously.. how do ou mess up on edemame? The smoked salmon wasnt smoked. The seared salmon had no flavor. The cuts of sashimi were cut like a slab of beef. All I can say is if you are looking for a good sushi restaurant this is NOT I repeat NOT the place to go.. I would have rather eaten track sushi instead of this place.!!

    (1)

  • Michele M.

    Let's just say that the rice portions are massive with the nigiri sushi platter!!! You get your money's worth but still can't seem to get past the RICE...

    (4)

  • Jens J.

    You know, Saburo's reminds of Claim Jumper. Sushi rolls the size of burrito that you eat with both hands (which does look a bit odd). We were surprised and pleased to come here last night and just have a five minute wait for a table. I think the menu cards that you fill out are a great idea, it reduces the risk chance for a goof-up between you and the kitchen, but not entirely as we were to find out. We started with the Octo Sunomo salad. This delicious and colorful salad came with a recognizable strip of octopus but also delightful little shreds of marinated octopus as well. I definitely recommend! For another appetizer we had the Baby Octupus. This octopus was also marinated, bright red and very good. I also highly recommend. You might gather that I am rather fond of octopus, and I am! Then came the Big O Roll. Not sure what it had as far as fish, but I think it was salmon and a white fish. Came with a very nice dipping sauce. Next, we had the Spider Roll. Huge! And delicious, of course. We then split an order of chicken teriyaki. It came with broccoli, cabbage and carrot. It had an excellent sauce (not that lousy oversweet goop that most teriyaki joints use). The teriyaki automatically comes with miso soup and ice cream. But that leads me to say that service was only fair. While orders were delivered quickly to the table, no one ever came around to refill our water glasses. Also, I had to remind them to bring me the delicious and fluffy green tea ice cream at the end of the meal. And now I realize as I write this review, they forgot to give me my miso soup. I guess with all the other wonderful food around me, I just forgot. Still, that's gonna cost a star.

    (3)

  • Erik P.

    Colossal size sushi! Everything is like 4 times the average size. Get all salmon nigiri, it the best I've ever had, and did I mention the portions are colossal. Red tuna was alright. In the tuna's defense, I'm a sucker for fish fat at the red tuna is pretty lean. The wait staff aren't exactly friendly, but they are efficient.

    (5)

  • Amy A.

    Saburo makes you feel like you've magically learned to unhinge your jaw and have opened wide to face an ocean of sushi! Let these huge pieces of buttery raw fish slide down your gullet!

    (5)

  • Nina N.

    I love this place! Although the wait to get a table is pretty long, it's well worth it. I come about once or twice a month with a group of friends from out of state. Our orders are always big due to us getting extras for take out. Staff is always friendly and don't complain about our huge orders. Wait for food can take a while since it's always so busy. But when the food does come out, it is always well presented and delicious! My favorites are the seared salmon, sea eel (unagi), and Sabu roll (heh, Sabu Ro-). The salmon cheeks are also pretty good (says my friend), but I have yet to try. Perhaps next time? Prices for rolls and nigiri are well worth it as well. Each nigiri comes with two, and are a little over twice as large than the average nigiri size. Fish is cut medium to thick on bed of rice. Rolls are huge and probably would take two bites, unless you're brave enough to have chipmunk cheeks. Well worth the chipmunk cheeks though. As for bringing groups, the place is pretty small. They probably have about 15 or so tables. I'd say keep your group no larger than 5 or 6. Any more, and you're most likely going to have to wait for a long time. 30 minutes minimum. Very likely to come again! Glad they're open all week now. Yay!

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    You have to wait at least two hours before you can go in. If that's not for you then cut down on the number of people in your party. The portions are enormous and the price is so cheap, a definite plus. Do get your orders right because it will be a long time before you'll see them again. There's just too many people and the space is small, and the staff is limited.

    (3)

  • Scott P.

    It's simple. Quantity does not equal quality. Rude service is not "edgy". I've been here several times over the years. Someone always convinces me to go back. The result is always the same. They give huge chunks of low-quality sushi that looks like it has been hacked off with a machete. It's sloppy sushi but it is, admittedly, plentiful. If quantity of sushi for the $ is your aim, then Saburo's is good for that. But you have to put up with the fact that the waitstaff is just downright mean to get that plentiful plate of poor quality sushi. Mean, rude, nasty. Really.

    (1)

  • Adam S.

    If you catch this place at the right time it's the best (and most plentiful) sushi you'll ever eat.

    (4)

  • Aaron L.

    Went last night with Kirsten and we had a great time. Sat at the bar, so we didn't have to wait long at all. Also, we learned to moderate our ordering and actually finished almost everything. The only thing I didn't like was the spider roll, but then I never like spider roll, but we ordered it anyways. I think I've always liked the name more than the actual roll, but I digress...

    (4)

  • Josh G.

    I have been coming to Saburo's for over 4 years. I have eaten at sushi restaurants all over the country and the world (London, Turkey, Poland, LA, Seattle, New York, and many many more). There is no place I've been that compares to Saburo's. The quantity to quality ratio is extremely high. The rolls are so huge that the biggest mouth couldn't take them down in one bite. This is why I mostly forgo the rolls for the nigiri, and the sashimi. Also, try the fried tofu, it's the bomb diggity. Try the salmon belly nigiri too. I know the 45 minute+ wait sucks but now they take phone numbers on their list (they will call you and give you a chance to show up!). I just drive over an hour before I want to eat and put my name on the list. I plan to have a few drinks elsewhere and go back. TL;DR Order the Salmon Belly Nigiri and Fried Tofu Appetizer. Show up 45 minutes before you want to eat, and then go have drinks elsewhere.

    (5)

  • Hieu T.

    The wait sucks. Wait, what? My party arrived a half an hour prior to opening on a Wednesday night. Unsurprisingly, there was a line that wrapped around the corner of the building, but luckily enough we were there just enough to get in as the first group to fill the restaurant. 5 o'clock hits and we're in. We opted for the table in the very front by the door and window. Much to our dismay, the waiting patrons who did not get in right away bunched up in the 4'x4' waiting area sometimes spilling into the dining areas. Not only that, some of them have the tenacity to leave the door open while we were eating. Seriously, you guys who bunch up at the door and bump into the people sitting down are morons. Same goes for the tards constantly opening the door for no real reason. The food was brought out at a terrible pace and our drinks were consistently empty. S'pose that's what we get for being the first bunch. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut! The food tasted phenomenal. The sashimi was fresh and smooth. The rolls were large and flavorful. They were packed tight and shaped skillfully. YUM. YUM. YUM! Of course, I definitely am overlooking the horrid wait, stupid inconsiderate customers and slow and inattentive waiters/waitresses, I've come to the realization that Saburo's has and most likely will ALWAYS be this way. Anybody who has gone multiple times will tell you the exact same thing...the wait sucks. Then again, the wait only sucks because the food is so darn mouthwatering and delicious. Who can blame them? Saburo's is definitely a restaurant that separates itself from the rest, not necessarily out of quality, but out of culture and charm. By no means am I discounting the quality of the food here, but I'm one to believe that we are to judge a restaurant on what and how it actually is versus what it is compared to your X and/or Y restaurants. The wait is always going to be long no matter when you go. And if you don't want to wait, good riddance because I'll gladly take your seat. :)

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    Simple... when I go out with the wife for great sushi, I got to Saburo's for quality and price. When I need to be pretentious for clients, I go elsewhere and spend more than I should. Saburo's is worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Huong-Hung N.

    We went there first time last nite, it was A-OK. The line wasn't that bad, we were 4th in line, waited for 15 mins in the rain. We ordered quite a few things since we heard that it's a one time order per table but in the end, we want some to go and we ask if we could and they let us. The service was excellent, the food looked fanstastic but taste ok. I like Budokhan roll the best, CA roll with real crab was a little dry. I might be back, but we'll see.

    (3)

  • Scott L.

    This is a very enthusiastic A-OK, mind you. My wife and I came her on a recommendation. We're out-of-towners visiting from SF so we have a higher standard for our fish. You simply can't beat how fresh the fish is in SF. With that, we came here with lowered expectations but also expecting a crowd. We sat at the bar on a crowded Sunday night. We ordered 2 rolls, gyoza, and a chef's sashimi plate. 1. The rolls here are big and generous. Big points for the rolls. 2. The gyoza was battered in tempura and deep-fried. We were not expecting this and mildly disappointed. 3. The sashimi plate was good but I felt like a majority of the fish was not fresh. It tasted a bit funny. My wife quipped that we would come here often if we lived in Portland. We probably would but we'd probably get the rolls more often instead of the fish.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    I should have known I was getting into something special when the bus driver asked me, when exiting the bus, "So, are you going to the sushi place? Everyone is always on this bus going to the sushi place." When walking by and seeing the huge wait outside, his enthusiasm was reiterated by the patiently-waiting patrons. I returned an hour and a half later with no line... and my expectations were met. Portions are GIGANTIC, cost is unbelievably minimal, and the food is quite good. The Hawaiian Roll wasn't anything to write home about (I've had much better spicy tuna), but the eel-avocado was some of the best I've ever had! Avocado was perfectly ripe and the eel was soft, sweet, and almost buttery. Plus, glasses of wine for $2.50 and incredibly nice patrons making conversation at the sushi bar? Saburo is a big win. No doubt, you will be served the largest pieces of sushi in your life at Saburo!

    (4)

  • Robert G.

    Love the dragon roll, caterpillar roll, river eel, salmon, Mt. Hood roll. Did not enjoy the spicy tuna roll, vegetable roll, spider roll, hamachi, Spanish mackerel. The hot green tea could improve . This place is so busy and you should be prepared to wait 1.5 hours.

    (3)

  • Edna H.

    If you want volume and good pricing then this is the place to go. Just be aware the wait can exceed an hour or more. On Saturday, we arrived 40 minutes before they opened and weren't seated until an hour after they opened. The cuts of fish and rolls were of great size but the flavoring was mediocre. I'm down to drive and wait in line for great food but this isn't going to be one of them. If the wait is 30 minutes or less then maybe I will give this place another try. For now, I'll stick to my favorite sushi place in beaverton!

    (3)

  • James D. H.

    Got here 1/2 hr. before they opened cuz from what I hear and have seen. There is no other way! That's if you want to ever see the inside. I have driven by here many times and fought the urge to stop in. No matter how many times I was told how good or how large the portions are. After my local culinary hero Chef E. told me to check Saburo's out and gave me the story on how to make the wait worth it, I had no choice. I had to make the journey at all cost. So here I am. Waiting. 7th from the front. My belly, ready! My mind reeling from pics of the menu. Waiting. 4 minutes to go. So hungry. Will I be disappointed? Must eat........now...... Open. Open. Open. I hear the lock click. The doors open. I walk in to cool refreshing air. Seated at the bar. My drink order taken right away as I cruze the menu in real time. I order the 9 piece Sushi (Chefs Choice) Deluxe. 9 pcs + Calif. Roll + Miso. ($16.75). I wait & wonder. Will I be happy with what I get for how much I'm spending? Will it even be any good? My order comes lickity split. I was surprised at how fast. (Nice.) It was more than i could ask for! The Cali Roll. Awesome! The Miso Soup. On point and the fish.... Fresh. Huge portions. Like, my big mouth had to take 2-3 small bites off the ends to finish it off and even then it was too much for my big mouth! The Rice was tender and done right. For me the $ was a little steep but worth every penny. I left full. I'm talkin really full! (Not to full to go to my second favorite Thai place for Sesame Balls.)

    (4)

  • Danielle A.

    We go here every thursday around the same time. We only have to wait 10 min at the most. One of the servers (with the glasses and ponytail) always remembers us and ensures that we will have a seat, she's AWESOME! . She is very friendly and welcoming, making sure that we stay as long as we want and enjoy our meal. The service is quick and moves fast always ensuring the diner knows what they are ordering and willing to help!d This place is great, we come Thursday for their delicious Unagi and Spicy Tuna rolls. Their chilled Ngori and Sake are super delicious. I would recommend this place to everyone (except I don't want to give up my table).

    (5)

  • Tommy L.

    They hired a new hostess, and she is just the most passive aggressive, annoying ass bitch ever! Look out for the pudgy Asian chick with glasses. Biggest bitch ever! Extremly rude to the customers, and pushy, has an extremely condescending and aggressive atitude. Arrived for dinner on a Thursday night, it wasn't even a busy night. She refused to sit us OR any other party unless the whole party was there, fair enough, but the way she say it was rude. She has a condescending and bitchy attitude. Talk down to the customers like they are idiots. So a total of 4 parties were waiting by the door for her to sat us, while there are like 8 empty tables. When my party arrived, a waitress, who recongizned me, sat us down. My friend went to the restroom to wash his hand. She ran (I am serious) up to our table and asked in an aggressive manner. "Who sat you down!? Is your whole party here yet? If not, wait by the door!" WTF is that? FIRE THE BITCH!

    (1)

  • Donna K.

    I use to be able to wait hours to eat at this costco size Sushi house. I'm thinking it's only worth it sometimes now. They have a lot of rules reccently. Did you know theu charged gratuity for 2 people and we togoed 2 Bento orders? We asked for spicy mayo on the side and they charged us a dollar for each dish without letting us know it wasn't complimentary! Seems a little greedy if you asked me... it seems people come here for the unusually enormous sized sushi, but I love their grilled oysters - the oyster sauce is tangy and delicious, which they never seem to have anymore. I think I'll take a break from lochness size sushi for a while. Bonus: they have their always going special deep fried big o rolls- a tempura sushi roll with fish and cream cheese.

    (3)

  • Christine W.

    BIGGER IS BETTER The sushi pieces here are HUGE! If you have an iphone, it is basically the size of your phone screen. Although tasty and a great BANG for your buck, the wait to be seated here is pretty LONG - usually 40 min to an hour wait depending on what time you go. The service is friendly and pretty quick. If you survive the wait, I would recommend ordering the Dragon Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Alaskan Crunchy Roll - i love unagi :)

    (4)

  • Yu F.

    Yammme

    (5)

  • Pete L.

    As advertised. Long wait for monstrous pieces of fish. I found the huge pieces off-putting and unwieldy. This sushi is difficult to eat because of its extremely large size. Nigiri pieces are at least three bites, and twice as thickly cut as typical. For me, that makes for an less than pleasant eating experience, certainly one that I have never had at any sushi houses in Japan. Fish was fresh, so no quality complaints, you just need to be prepared for the experience and decide if portion size is your main criteria for choosing a sushi restaurant. If it is, saburo's will be a good restaurant choice for you. I don't feel the need to return.

    (2)

  • Trumary S.

    Often standing room only, this restaurant consistently slams home quality, diversity, and really beautiful food that is art as well as edible. Their sauces are special blends; for example the tempura dipping sauce was not straight Ponzu, it was a gingery blend made just for tempura. They have a separate sauce for dipping raw fish bites. You mark what you want on a menu with a marker and then they bring it to you. There are explanations for most foods and what isn't there, someone will happily explain to you. Owned and ran by true Sushi Masters, you will not be disappointed here. High quality, excellent service, beautiful food. Who could ask for anything more?

    (5)

  • Vadim V.

    It's a good place to try out. The rolls are very big as described. They aren't unique but are tasty. The diamond roll was really good. The spider had too much rice. Wait was 10 min max. The waiter kept yelling over my shoulder and the place is small, so it was pretty annoying.

    (3)

  • Leah K.

    Saburo's only has hype due to large portions and thats about it. Their motto is obviously QUANTITY over QUALITY. Sushi is an art. It's about the simplicity, quality and freshness. Being able to take a roll in one bite is crucial in japanese-sushi eating etiquette. The portions here are ridiculously large, too large. Instead of one bite, it is more like 3 bites and yes of course, everything falls apart. There is nothing I hate more than that. For those of you who love Saburo's I understand... you may feel like you're getting more due to the large portion but remember that you are also paying more. Double the size, double the price. I can't eat sushi without ginger like I can't eat Korean food without kimchee. We asked the waitress for extra ginger and got charged for it (first time being charged for extra ginger at a sushi restaurant). Her response in questioning the charge was that Saburo's has once again raised prices. One thing I did like is the Hawaiian roll, thought it was unique using a thin slice of cucumber instead of the regular nori. And no charge for green tea, surprising. Overall, a disappointment. It doesn't matter what kind of food it is, large portions can ruin any dish. Overkill. This is one of those places that have HYPE, but don't live up to it. I've been here twice now and will not be returning. I would rather spend my money else where. PS. This place only opens for dinner at 5pm. Expect long lines.

    (2)

  • Michael L.

    Best sushi place in Oregon! Get the spider roll

    (5)

  • Todd M.

    When we first moved here, ( we live 3 blocks away) we ate here at least once a week 9 years later, we haven't been in there in over 3 years. We love Saburo, his wife Joyce, Antonio his brother Gaudi, and everyone else who works there. What we've learned over the years, is that whatever Saburos is, it isnt awesome sushi. If you're short on funds, or not a serious sushi devotee, then you'll probably love it.

    (2)

  • Kimmy C.

    i have been deprived of Saburo's for 3 months. No one should ever be deprived of Saburo's for that long. That's how much I long for Saburos...

    (5)

  • Paul V.

    Do I even have to write a review for this place?? There's a reason why there's a line.. and its not the lack of supply, its the demand!! Don't be scared to step out of your relm of the rolls. Try the deep fried octopus, the salmon collar, and the salads!! This is still my GO TO sushi joint!!

    (5)

  • Kirsten Q.

    I really wish you had put on your website you were closed for summer vacation. Very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Grace H.

    I think Saburo's is a tad bit overhyped. The sushi is pretty good, decent quality. The portions are humongous, which is wonderful. And the prices are lovable. But there is always a very long wait. Not quite sure it's worth it. Their customer service is also unreliable. If you want sheer quantity and have a good group of friends who will make waiting in line bearable, go for it. It can make for a fun time with friends but don't go in expecting the best sushi ever.

    (3)

  • Raja S.

    This place has good sushi and the size of some of the rolls is huge. I tried quite a few of my favorite rolls like Unagi (eel), California, Spicy Tuna - all of them were good. The salmon raw sushi was also good. In general, all of the sushi was decent to pretty good. The vegetable tempura was just okay. Would definitely go there again (only wished it was closer). The downside of the place is the wait - about 45 minutes or more on Friday evening. However, the service is quite fast, the wait is primarily from the place being small (in other ways, cramped). The other thing that I found weird with the place is that you have to get all of your order in one shot - so, we just ended up ordering more than what we consumed and had about 2-3 servings of sushi as to-go (which was the case with many other customers). Street parking is plenty.

    (4)

  • Mitchell F.

    The last year and a half I have been here three times. To make it better, I have been here twice in a month. Though the wait takes forver, the value and the quality is so much better than any other sushi place that I have been to. For a table of two or five, you really are trading time for the food! Thick pieces of seafood, and not to mention super fresh. The staff is super friendly and is very helpful with seating you at the next available table. Ever since Ive been here to Saburo's I eventually stopped going to sushi places here in Seattle.

    (5)

  • N I.

    I am at the table utterly disgusted. Enough to stop eating and write this review. There is no feeling miserable enough to compare with this sushi experience. To keep it simple, the restuarant stinks, the staff have a very poor attitude, and more importantly the fish, in any form, nigiri or maki (rolls) is unpalatable. The piece are gigantic, the fish has an aweful stench and feels like it's been left out to rot in the sun before being sloppy chopped up and rolled around mammoth balls of rice. Please save you stomach and your time. We waited an hour to get a table. Seeing the other positive reviews leaves me dumbstruck. I don't recommend this restaurant to even my enemies.

    (1)

  • Beth W.

    I'm no sushi expert, but my girlfriend and I LOVE this place. Biggest rolls in the universe filled with jumbo deliciousness. And it's SOOOO cheap. Here's a list of some of my favorite things: a) Side salad with the peanut dressing. b) Dofu soup with tofu. c) All the veggie rolls are divine. d) House sake. Arrive when they open because people know that Saburo's is the ticket and you could seriously wait 1.5 to 2 hours. Service has always been nice but one time the server recommended sweet potato and it was delicious, but the addition was more expensive than the roll! Wish he'd told us it was $4 more dollars. I always leave this place with a box of leftovers and major sake high.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Biggest rolls, freshest sushi, longest wait= Saburo's in a nutshell

    (5)

  • Ulli H.

    Amazing sushi! Very fresh and tasty and the biggest pieces I've ever seen in my life. And the best? They charged extremely reasonable prices. I've never eaten such huge and good sushi for this little money. Keep up the great work!

    (5)

  • Kitty K.

    Crazy huge portions. Super fresh fish. The wait was well worth it, but I suggest getting there as early as possible.... like BEFORE they open.

    (4)

  • Jeff N.

    Lots of hype, wait, and food. Yes, portions are very large. Yes, it's a pretty good value based on size/weight, but the quality of the cuts suffer (can't bite through the huge salmon slab on nigiri due to rougher parts of the fish) and you can't escape the feeling you're being herded through the place. I do think that if you choose items that might be less susceptible to questionable cuts you could be quite happy. I had a salmon skin roll that, due to it's size, seemed like a delightfully different dish than any I'd had elsewhere. I mostly enjoy the delicate texture of softer sashimi so I probably won't go back for that, but if I'm straight up hungry and willing to settle for a diced/mixed roll or cooked fish sushi, I'd probably try it again.

    (3)

  • Danielle K.

    Since I've moved to upstate New York, I've acquired an affinity for sushi. I really like it a lot, and many of my friends in New York go regularly. In Portland, I rarely, if ever, go. But now I'm making a new commitment. Because sushi is great. And healthy. So the other night, I go to Saburo's. I was born and raised in this part of the hood, and I've always seen the long lines for this place and wondered what the hell was so great. It's been like this for years. So finally, after 26 years of watching people stand outside for sushi, I finally go to check it out with a few homies in tow. While we had about a 25 minute wait, this place did not disappoint. The prices were comparable to any other sushi restaurant I'd been to in Albany (perhaps even slightly cheaper), and there is lots to choose from. The big difference is actually a HUGE difference. A GINORMOUS difference. Yup, it's the size here that counts. The rolls and nigiri are the size of your head. No joke. There is so. much. fish. So come hungry! Now, a few people have told me that it's not the best sushi they've ever had. I've never had flat-out bad sushi, so I am not the best person to attest to the quality, but I did think that everything from the miso soup and seaweed salad to the spicy tuna and salmon rolls were damn tasty. And I definitely got my money's worth. Also worth noting, while the line may be long, the service is quick! Definitely will be wanting to come back here before my return to NY.

    (4)

  • Feuy S.

    Quantity over quality. No thanks.

    (2)

  • Angela M.

    Even though the customer service isn't the best, I love the food. Not pricey at all. Long wait. But people wait because its so good obviously. Its nice they have a sign up letting you know there will be a wait. Place doesn't rink of fish either. Very fresh and kept clean. I always recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Ang C.

    Can we just talk about the salmon belly please? Salmon belly, seared salmon, scallops, freshest sushi. The fish to rice ratio is on par, and Sab's gives you a succulent cut of fish. Waiting outside makes this place all worth it.

    (5)

  • Jenn N.

    Holy cow! How can a restaurant provide such big pieces of fish for such a cheap price?! Actually... I don't want to know. You do not go to Saburo's for aesthetic or ambiance. There is no story about which prefecture the rice was grown in or if your fish is from a sustainable source. It is a get in and get out experience. The restaurant opens at 4:30 and we wandered over at 4:15 on a Saturday. We did not expect to see so many people already queued up. We were probably persons number 35 & 36 on queue. Hilarious. We chatted for a bit standing in the stinky parking lot. The doors opened and we got the first seating! It's very easy to order as they give you a menu and a vis-a-vis pen and you just jot down how much of any one thing you want. We started with some soft-shell crab that was deep fried and seaweed salad. We then progressed onto a rainbow roll that touted 8 pieces on the menu. These were the 8 largest pieces ever. Each piece required four bites for me. Crazy... and Delicious! We ordered an assortment of nigiri next and were pleasantly surprised with the big pieces again. Each nigiri took about 3 bites. I don't know how they can charge almost half the price compared to other sushi joints but give so much more fish. The fish weren't the only things in large amount. The rice is used with a heavy hand here. I ended up dissecting my nigiri and took some rice off because they were very dense balls of rice. I wonder if they use a machine to shape the rice for nigiri. The rolls also have a lot of rice. It's hard to understand how big these pieces of fish are until you experience it for yourself. I highly recommend you try it out! I love this style of sushi! It's cheap, fun and nobody takes it too seriously. We loved the amount of options and the inventive rolls they had. We will definitely come back when we're jones-ing for huge amounts of delicious sushi.

    (4)

  • Deena L.

    Freshest seafood in OR! Hugh tasty sushi rolls. Had fun waiting in line to get seated...

    (5)

  • Sandie H.

    People, there is nothing authentic about this place. That's why there are so many complaints about the service. It's just subpar quality sashimi super sized because that's what people want. They want value for their food and unfortunately, there are not a lot of people who know what good Japanese food/sushi should taste like so they are ok with mediocrity. Sushi is a delicacy meant to be savored in one bite, not 3 ginormous bites that leave the entire piece in shambles when you finally finish the whole piece. The biggest draw of this place is the mass volume you get for your money. That's it.

    (2)

  • Andrea M.

    We came with a large group. We arrived 15 minutes before opening. It was a good thing, cause if we didn't get in first thing and take over a majority of the tables, we would not have been able to sit together. Service was okay. Best sushi ever? No, but it was darn good. Large rolls, good price. We'll be back. I would recommend it to a friend. I would rate it better than a sushi-go-round, fo sho!

    (3)

  • Justin N.

    I find it odd that this fantastic establishment (which I have eaten at at least once a year for 10 years) is not rated 4* on average. Yes, it is not the fanciest atmosphere, but it is by far the best sushi in the NW. If I lived closer I would eat there weekly, but we live across town so eat closer to home. So I give it a 5* to increase the average.

    (5)

  • Mya C.

    I would post 0 stars but unfortunately that is not an option. We were greeted in the rudest way. After waiting for 45 min, mind you they were not busy and when we finally were seated we asked for more than one menu they simply said no sorry we don't have any. Once finally seated we still waited for an additional 25 min. My friends and I ordered our food and clearly marked on the "one" menu provided. Our food came after an additional 20 and our order was wrong. I am not the type to complain ever and once I inquired about our order being wrong our servers only reply was "the menu was blurry not my fault" then walked away. She continued to charge me 2 dollars for spicy mayo and another dollar for cream cheese. My main point is the service was so sub par and I felt so disrespected that I will never come here again. I will still stick to my usual high quality, friendly, and respectful sushi places.

    (1)

  • J L.

    DO NOT GO HERE. I usually don't do reviews, but the experience of my most recent visit was too unpleasant. This used to be one of my family's favorite place to enjoy sushi, but now they have a whole new staff and servers, charge for every little thing, and the portion sizes went down. If you want extra wasabi, there's extra charge. Unagi sauce? Spicy mayo? Extra $.50-$1+. It's not as worth it and the sushi is not up to par anymore. Unfortunately, it's just not what it used to be. I would not go here anymore or ever again. The service is horrible. You cannot ask a simple question and expect to have the server give you an answer without attitude. They're not very welcoming and could care less about your food allergies, but blames you instead.

    (1)

  • Dean F.

    This is a tough review to write. There are several things about this place I'm not a fan of. But purely based on flavor and value of food this place is a 5 hands down. Where they lose points for me is in customer service and in basic cleanliness. Here is two examples. In the restroom as I have pictured they have a broken toilet. This is a simple fix for most and proven to be even more simple for these folks. They have simply mcgivered a cord out of Saran Wrap to flush. Wow. Inventive yes. Appropriate not so much. Second. My girlfriend and I walk in and are first blocked by some grump crap apple geezer (granted this is not the restaurants fault) once he is shuffled away by the waitress who in turn grabs the blessed sign in sheet and begins to protect it from the masses waits a minute or two then asks me if I need help. I respond that I would like to get in for a table. Well you must sign in she says. I respond yes I'm trying to get to the clip board. She in turn tells me that the only way to seat is by signing the clipboard. In my head I want to tell the lady, then give me the god damn sign up sheet. Aside from this food is great but expect a wait.

    (4)

  • Danny N.

    This place sushi is sooo good and cheap!!! 5 people and our total came out to be close to $60 including tips. Since this is Oregon, there are no taxes. We had the big-o roll, salmon skin roll, philly roll, tempura roll, and salmon sashimi. The salmon skin roll here is not like any other salmon skin roll, its more like smoked salmon roll. All the rolls I've tried here are very delicious and big!!! Be warn! line is extremely long! I would go here again, but its in Oregon, and I live in California.

    (5)

  • Eddie W.

    Waiter: Hi, welcome to Saburo's can I take your order? Us: Can we get 4 orders of unagi, 3 orders of salmon, 2 Spicy Tuna Salads, 2 California rolls, side order of mixed tempura and some gyoza. Waiter: Would you like to try our House Special Roll? Us: Maybe later Waiter: Sorry, you can only order ONCE Us: Oh.........ok? Yes, if it seems like I'm trying to make Saburo's sound like a fast food joint such as McDonald's then you are correct. While there are considerable similarities there are salient differences. Similarities: Both offer super size options, affordable prices, quantity over quality philosophy, more than necessary daily caloric intake, mayonnaise over usages, cramp seating, nonexistent servers Differences: Super size is only option at Saburo's, McDonald's has no limit on orders As a sushi joint Saburo's deserves 1 star (if that) but as a McDonald's of sushi 2 star (laughable at best)

    (2)

  • Hayden N.

    Large, great quality sushi at ridiculously affordable prices. My favorite sushi restaurant in Portland! The only negative is that it's small and the wait could be up to an hour and a half on a busy day. I recommend going when it first open, on rainy weekdays, or with a friend that has connections :) Heads up, the sushi is HUGE--people have the tendency to over order!

    (4)

  • Kaj B.

    Saburo's is a local institution and going there is always the work of an evening. Saburo's operates like many frustrating restaurants in this town that refuse to expand their capacity to meet demand: you have to get there before they open or you won't get in for hours. The sushi itself is middling in quality but the price is good and the portions are enormous. They have a couple standard Japanese pub dishes like curry and udon for the non sushi eaters but it is mainly a sushi place. Go with your friends, it would be boring alone.

    (3)

  • Doug P.

    Unfortunately Saburo's was disappointing, very disappointing. I can imagine when international friends visit and they are taken to Saburo's they have a true understanding of why americans are so FAT! Enormous portions! The portion sizes are embarassingly huge, and I mean huge. A piece of nigiri is, at least 2-3x bigger than it should be. It makes for a very uncomfortable experience trying to choke down. Additionally you must place only one order- can't order more once you already placed your initial order. They emphasize this point in order for you to make sure you stock up and carry away enough food for a small family. In this case quantity doesn't not equal quality. Any self respecting sushi lover would never show their face here.

    (2)

  • michael k.

    Cheap Sushi...... Two words that shouldn't be said together. Big Sushi, another two..... Sushi is finger food, and a piece should take one, maybe two bites to finish. I watched the lady at the next table cut her roll pieces with a fork and knife, like it was a steak. Plus this place is dirty and needs a good cleaning. The wait station had garbage all over the floor, which you have to walk thru to get to the back dinning room. As we were leaving i looked in the display case. I noticed 7 different types of fish/seafood all piled on top of each other. Not very sanitary. Check my photo. I like danger, but I'm not stupid.

    (2)

  • Heidi K.

    I have eaten sushi literally all over the world, and I love this place. My boyfriend and I eat here about once a week. Yes, we wait 20-30 minutes EVERY time. The space is tiny, deal with it, ya whiners. There's a wine bar literally next door, where you can wait patiently. The portions are absolutely enormous, and the fish is tender and very tasty. We usually order sake, miso, edamame, seaweed salad, sunomono, and various sashimi and nigiri. We have rolls from time to time, but the massive slices of fresh fish are our favorite. Service is eh, but this is a cheap, tasty sushi place in Portland - fits the scenery. Please don't start going here. The wait is already long enough. Okay, that was selfish.

    (5)

  • Peter F.

    Saburo's is amazing, there is absolutely no denying that. It is in my top 3 sushi places I have ever been to. The only reason I took off one star is because the seating is ridiculous. You MUST plan for an hour to an hour and a half wait every single time you go there. It could be could be pouring down rain with a tornado on the way and it still seems like Black Friday. The worst part of it is there are people who will slyly try to cut and act all naive about it. Or, one friend will be there waiting for a bit and then five of their friends just hop in line right in front of you right before they open. This irritates me because you literally have to be on point (sometimes confront people) if you simply want to get through the door. Once the do open, they do have a list you can get on, but you better have some time to kill. I've found that getting on the list and then going for a coffee or a drink and then coming back works really well. However, do not take too long or you will miss your opportunity. They seem to know they need to expand and that it makes everyone angry, but they also seem content just where they are. I will change my review to 5 stars if they ever get a bigger building, or at least make it so you can order things to go. Now on to the good... Their portions are fresh, and huge! I have seen people write negative things about their staff, but they have always been extremely friendly to me and very fast once you order. The waiting may take an hour and a half, but most often you will be out of there in a half hour to forty five minutes. This place is also great for a vegetarian as their veggie rolls are gigantic and delicious as well. Probably the best veggie rolls I have ever had. Their spicy tuna rolls are one of my favorites and their salmon has always been top notch when I've been there. You can also get real crab in your rolls for a very affordable price. Whatever you order will probably be delicious but start with only a couple of rolls and be prepared to go into battle.

    (4)

  • John B.

    I went there today after hearing lots of hype about the place. The fish was fresh but that is about all I can say for this place. Everyone loves the huge rolls, which indeed they are. I believe it is lost on most people that sushi is suppose to be single bite size pieces, not some monstrosity you have to take three bites to eat. The proportions and size were off which is why I am giving it such a low score. the wait wasn't horrible considering how busy they were and the staff performed their basic function but nothing more. I would say this place is the McDonalds of sushi with better fish quality.

    (2)

  • Justin D.

    every time i go to portland, i make it absolutely necessary to stop by favorite place... saburo's!!! last time when i was on crunch time coming from seattle to san francisco, i threw the biggest fit to my girlfriend because she wouldnt pull over to get saburo's.. it's that serious big line, but even bigger sushi!! so worth the wait. so worth the 700 mile drive. so worth every penny. i'll see you soon saburo's!!!

    (5)

  • Max P.

    This is a great place to go if you love sushi! I have been going here for years, and I would come more often if I didn't live so far away. The bad part about this place is the wait because it is always so pack. I love the spider rolls and the tempera udon. The sushi they serve here seem like they are on steriods, they are huge! must try! Try and go before the dinner rush, probably right when they open for dinner or after 8ish, so the wait wont be so long.

    (5)

  • psychedelichantique m.

    Bigger sushi portion than the usual. Good deal, good taste :)

    (4)

  • Mel E.

    Me gusta sushi grande. Sushi grande esta aqui en Saburo's. Donde estan Ana Alicia y Esteban? Oh crap, I need to stop. Before coming to Saburo's, I thought the pieces of fish on nigiri should be about two times the size of my pinky. At Saburo's, those pieces are three times those dimensions. It seemed like it was 8 inches of a ruler. Yes, that wide. I'm a size queen. HAHAHAHA. Okey doke, moving right along. The one thing I was told about this place is that you can only order once, so make sure you get in everything you want. Needless to say, we ordered way to much food for three people and ended up taking home three boxes of food. I loved the spider roll with fried soft shell crab. The unagi, of course, was perfecto with those hunka chunka pieces of eel on top. One thing not to miss out on is the spicy tuna salad which tingles your tastebuds with just enough spice. Seriously, I wanted to take my salad plate, tip it and pour that damn good dressing into a plastic baggie, but I refrained...plus I didn't bring a plastic baggie. I think I've died and gone to sushi heaven. And for the non-converted, there's more room up here.

    (5)

  • David M.

    if you are in the mod for giant rolls or giant pieces then this is your place. It is affordable so it fills a need. The lines are too much. However I always leave full. At least for a little while...

    (4)

  • Leon C.

    This is a great place if not the best place to get sushi in Portland, OR. Everytime I was here, my friends and I eat like kings. The sushi are fresh and rolls are good size! It's a family business run by husband and wife. They work hard and are nice to get know. The place is not too big and it sooo popular the wait is long. But if you get there early enough you should have no problems.

    (5)

  • Brenna S.

    Saburo's is good... just not great. Everybody talks about how much they love this place because the rolls are huge. Indeed, the portions are quite large, but more rice does not mean more taste. The restaurant is tiny and there is always a wait, so I wouldn't recommend giving it more than 15 minutes before moving on to somewhere more worth your while.

    (3)

  • Randy D.

    well, the sushi here is affordable and they give you large pieces. but you get what you pay for. the consistency and freshness make this place dicey at best. i'd rather spend a lil extra and get some quality....

    (2)

  • John T.

    please read this message!!!!!! the food is okay, n i meant just okay tho!!!!! you really can not screw up with fresh fish...right?!?! as long as the fish is fresh n i guess the quality is gurantee!!! the place is small, n they seated you sitting on the same table with the people you dont know. the biggest mistake is they have bigger's gut charge each person 18% tips no matter what eventho you are going by yourself!!!!!! They charged my friend 15%, n charged me n my wife 18% at the SAME NIGHT...WHY?!?!?! Let me tell you guys. They charged the " % " depends on how much foods n what you order. My wife n I ordered $110 including 18% tips n all sushi. My friends ordered bunch of rolls no sushi n around $35. And he got charged 15%. They need to learn basic english first before learn how to do business in america...especially in oregon tax free state!!!!!! if you have good service, then 10000% i will have no problem to tip. because the servers rely on tips. but, they have no service at all n you have to wait forever to be seated or trying to refill your glass n ask for napkin things like that. tipping will not be considerate in this restaurant!!!!!!!! if you guys dont believe it, then visit there to experience yourself, pls! try " san sai japanese restaurant " in portland up town. look it up on yelp. you will be surprise the foods about the same, the price more fair, they dont charge you 18% grad without your agreement, and the place seats a lot more comfortable.

    (1)

  • Mark I.

    I thought it could not get any worse but I was wrong. Friends from out of town pleaded with me and I caved. The service was terrible, the wait was unbelivable and the final straw was mandatory tip added to our bill. Our friends were sadly disappoint. I think this place is on the decline.

    (1)

  • Brad H.

    I love this place. My favorite place for rolls... especially the Hawaiian roll. Yum. True, you have to wait in line to get in a lot of the time, but it helped my friends and I develop a tradition of pre-saburos drinks nearby, and once you count on that it isn't a big deal. The portions are huge, fresh, and just taste great. Definitely one of my stand bys when people are visiting town and want sushi.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    This is a tourism food experience. Thier hook is very large portions. But the food quality is something like a Buffet but with uniquely unapologetic service and cleanliness.

    (3)

  • Erica B.

    Honestly, I'm a sushi lover and whenever I go here it can literally never go wrong. Every item is fresh, delicious, the rolls are big, and I keep coming back for more. I've eaten here by myself and with friends, there's a bit of a line when they first open for the night (which is always a good sign) and the people are down to wait 30-45 minutes. (There's a wine bar next door to keep you warm). The service is good, it's always busy so cut them so slack (and its kind of a small place). I absolutely love the Mt Hood Roll, Hula Roll, Sabu Roll, I can keep going! The hand rolls are as big as your arm (maybe a tad smaller) and the nigiri is possibly the BEST I've had anywhere. I will keep coming back to this place.

    (5)

  • Woo K.

    YES- the sushi is ginormous YES- you better anticipate an hour wait if not more (the trick is to get there early before it opens) YES- it is a bit overhyped, but will you enjoy it? probably Saburo's is one of those sushi joints where you can easily over order. Everything just sounds so damn good, and judging on a normal scale- one roll could probably feed a family of 5. Am I the only person here who awkwardly picks up the sushi roll and tries to adjust it in different directions to fit in my mouth? Eat with someone your comfortable with, or getting stared at during this process can be either funny or awkward. My favorite here is the salmon, especially because it comes out looking like a mini salmon on a piece of rice. Things a giant, but more Salmon for me is never a bad thing. In all respects, I don't come here on a normal basis. Getting here and waiting can give anybody an anxiety attack, but I do crave it on an occasional basis. Yes to giant sushi! No to ugly lines. Yes to if you have friends coming to town! You guys will be talking about it after, it's a cool experience.

    (4)

  • Rossana Y.

    Portland is a little ridiculous sometimes with waiting in line for food. Our first attempt in coming to Saburo ended up with us having to leave since there was a sign for a 2 hour wait. 2 hours! This was when we arrived at around 6:30pm on a Friday night for dinner, but we decided to just come back again the next day at 4:30pm (opening time is at 5pm). We arrived the next day at 4:45pm and there was already a long line! Fortunately we we were able to fit into the early seating. The inside was much bigger than I thought, and there was actually another room as you walk further into the restaurant. What I like is that they give you very large portions. The rolls are huge!! If I were to order one, I definitely would share it with someone. However, I notice that they pack a lot of rice in the rolls and nigiri, which makes me obliged to give them minus one star. My favorite was the salmon belly, and it was very rich and creamy. Yum! I would never wait 2 hours to come eat here, but Saburo gets a solid 4 stars for the salmon belly and large portions of sushi!

    (4)

  • E C.

    Salmon, unagi and sweet shrimp are fresh!! Others are not. Sushi's original size exist for a reason. Oversized sushi here care less about its quality.

    (3)

  • G S.

    From the spicy tuna salad to the biggest, freshest offering of sushi that we ever experienced, this restaurant is a wonder! We love it every time we go and it's ALWAYS worth the wait. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The food is amazing!

    (5)

  • Tim F.

    Best bang for the buck sushi place in pdx. The fish is always fresh and you get plenty of it. The spicy maguro salad is my favorite. People hate on the lines and the service. But if you love fish. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Alex L.

    This place is epic. I like to come here on special occasions, and in my opinion it's a must-have experience for out-of-towners. Once you get over the long wait at the door, you're in for a treat. You only get one shot at ordering, so make it count. I always go straight for nigiri at Saburo's because it's so damn good. I recommend salmon, yellowtail, and tuna. The orders are beyond generous, about twice the size of a normal order. If you're not careful, you can easily order too much. One time my family and I watched in amusement the old couple at the next table, who received three banquet-size platters piled high with sushi as they sat in stunned silence. Amateurs. The fish is always fresh and absolutely delicious, just the way sushi should be. The bento boxes, sushi rolls, and noodles are tasty as well, but why waste your stomach space? Saburo's doesn't take reservations, but if they did you'd probably have to make one a week in advance. My recommendation? Have one person in your party go ahead and mark your group down, that way everyone else can be seated quickly when they arrive. Go, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Annie T.

    Previous review--My only complaint is is the wait. Remember your eyes are bigger than your stomach at this place, and oh staring at the next tables food is encouraged here. ;) Latest review-- I guess it's time for an updated review since my last one was in 2009.. Still got the same complaints, only this time there's a wine bar next door to help with that. Taking a star away from my previous review though sadly after all these years because I've discovered that even though your nigiri here is literally the size of a small 2 ounce fillet, it's just missing something...

    (3)

  • Alex C.

    BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE BILL AND READ CLOSELY. People who do not read their bill carefully might end up paying 30+% gratuity because of their unclear policies. Saburo's was pretty good. I've been going to this sushi shop for a long time now and I have to say that it's really disappointing to see what Saburo's has transformed into in the last year or so. The portions are extremely large and very fulfilling. However, they used to be bigger and the prices have gone up while the actual size of the fish has gone down. Furthermore, when we went in yesterday, they charged a 15% gratuity to our bill - for a party of 3 people who had spent $60. Why? When we asked, the waitress (not the one who had made the "mistake" because she probably didn't want to hear us escalate the issue with her) explained that it was charged automatically for a party of 4 or a party that spends over $100. Fine, but in this case it was a mistake and when we pushed further of why this mistake was made, the explanation we got was "it depends on your server". Choosing how much I tip my server is purely my discretion and should not be inbuilt into my total. No server should automatically add the gratuity into the total unless the party is large enough or they spent enough money. Be careful when you go here - they sometimes charge 15% gratuity into the total amount already and then some people might add more gratuity if they don't realize this. I'm not sure if this has happened before, but it's basically picking on the people who don't read carefully and is, in essence, a gimmick. For the usual service I receive there, 15% is already generous on my part. I shouldn't be charged 15% into the bill and then have the option of adding more. This unclear, unfair practice is definitely enough to keep me away from here. I'd rather do business with honest restaurants who charge their customers for what they ordered and do not automatically charge tip into the total as well.

    (2)

  • Leslie O.

    I'm not sure why EVERYONE in Portland thinks this place is amazing. In my option this place is okay at best. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the fish is good however, having to wait 2 freaking hours to get seated in itself is RIDICULOUS! That and the price for the sushi is EXPENSIVE. Do not come here if you are not willing to dig deep into your pocket book. The sushi pieces are on steroids as they are not you're typical/authentic sushi place. The salmon slices are as thick as steak and require you to try and gnaw off a chewable piece while trying not to destroy the rice underneath it. Last I checked sushi were supposed to be bite size. This place is not that.... The waitress that works there did a piss pour job and looked like she hating working there. Don't expect good service there from her. She tacked on a 15% gratuity for my party of 2. Please read the fine print when paying as you could be tipping on top of what she has already charged you.

    (2)

  • Chris N.

    Giant sushi!! Couple of friends and I made a trip to Portland for a day and decided to come here for dinner before heading home. Heard good reviews about this place so we went and tried it. We were starving and looking at the menu, we wanted everything but also heard the sushi the make is really big so we ordered a decent amount thinking we would be okay. Boy were we full after our dinner. Good thing we didn't order too much food! I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Barry R.

    We've been eating Sushi here for 15 years. A family tradition!

    (5)

  • Elaine R.

    I've been going to this place a lot,,,I love their sushi but only thing I hate about this place is LONG line,,,always long!!! even when I go there on week days still a line but its worth the wait tho.

    (4)

  • Mr B.

    I really enjoy this place. It is the best place in Portland in my Opinion. The portions are incredible, the flavors are equally incredible. And the wait for your order is relatively quick. Ok, about the Wait Time to get in. Get it in to your head that it's an hour at every time you visit whether you get there and hour ahead like me before it opens, or after they've already been open. I personally am patient and I would let my friends go and do their thing while I would wait in line an hour ahead of time and be near the first in line for when they open. When it got to be near the time for opening. I would call m friends to make sure they were there at the time they open. And when you get in, have your order ready in your head from looking at the menu on the phone to put in quickly so you can get your order first. If you want more later. Put it in after you get your food at the table. Eat here, you will not be disappointed unless you don't by now understand how much this place is a favorite spot by many, many, Many a good folk and want a quick entrance.

    (5)

  • Matt K.

    LOVE IT! When there is a line down the block before the place opens, you KNOW its good. Craving sushi, we decided to goto Saburo's to gorge ourselves. I love that when you sit down, you just mark what you want on the menu. I can't quite remember everything we ordered but it was all very good. From what I can remember, any nigiri we ordered had a ridiculously huge piece of fish on top, I mean ginormous! We ordered Toro and it was reasonably priced and buttery on the tongue. Our spider roll, spicy tuna roll, eel rolls were all huge and very good. The poke bowl was fantastic with huge chunks of tuna and a nice hint of sesame oil. Some things you need to keep in mind when coming to Saburo's: 1. Get there early...like at least 30 mins before they open, you don't want to miss the first seating. 2. Decide what you want to eat quickly, mark the menu and wave your hands wildly until a server takes your menu and orders - get your order in quickly and get your food quickly before the kitchen gets bogged down. 3. Come hungry, order tons, leave happy and pleasantly surprised at how affordable the meal was in relation of how uncomfortably full you are. For the 4 of use, we all were stuffed at the tune of $90! Wow! I love Saburo's and I will be coming back!

    (5)

  • David M.

    For some reason I kept saying Subaru's in my head. I think I'll be sticking with that. 4 **** seems fair. From all the hype I had been hearing, I was expecting to explode after eating here. Fortunately, there were no explosions for this lad (except in the crotch area). The menu actually described the portions as "Texas-sized." SHWING! You got this Texas boy's attention! As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, which was actually obnoxious until I moved out of Texas and then I realized they were for real. Now my hankerin' for larger portions and buffet menus is just never fully satisfied. Until now! We started with miso, which was definitely bolder and more flavorful than any other miso I've ever tasted. Miso gets 5 *****. Best miso I've ever had. Edamame is standard. Veggie tempura is golden! Literally! I've never had veggie temp. with onions! 5 ***** !! On to the main course: Salmon sashimi (8 large pieces), salmon belly nigiri, maguro, and yellowtail. Yellowtail is at the top of the list, probably because I always hope yellowtail tastes the way that it tasted at Saburo's. I've never had such good yellowtail in all my life, and asking the people around me, that was the general consensus. "It's why I come here," said Mr. Plaidpants, as I look over at his plate and see an entire yellowtail fishie waiting to be eaten up. Red tuna was yummy, but was probably at the bottom of the list. Salmon comes in at number 2, with the yellowtail winning the gold medal. The service was just lovely. They were incredibly fast, despite the packed restaurant. The food came out in record speed, with a smile to boot. To boot sure is a weird saying isn't it. Oh and by the way I failed to mention that Subaru's puts ice poop in the drinks! You know, the Sonic-style, round, perfectly crunchy ice that you can eat buckets of. Ice poop galore! The green tea wasn't half bad either. I'm deducting a star because honestly, it wasn't the most amazing fish in the world. The portions were larger, but that still isn't enough for this fatty to throw up 2 crusty thumbs. I'd rather have smaller portions of higher quality. Also, what in the world is worth waiting 2 hours outside in the cold for. That sounds like a lot of hype to me! Here's an idea: Rent out the place nextdoor and make your restaurant larger, OR turn it into a bar. Then, the crowd of fatties mooing outside can mozy on into a nice warm bar to order drinks. Think of the profit! With that aside, I'd happily visit Subaru's again and again and again.

    (4)

  • Shaina S.

    Is there another sushi place in town? Their shouldn't be! This place is amazing for the price, big rolls & fresh fish for a very reasonable price per roll. If you haven't been before you will be shocked by the size of each roll. They have great tempura veggie rolls and Philadelphia Rolls for beginners. For the real sushi eaters - their Fresh Water Eel is out of this world. Nothing on the menu is bad here. AND for those of you who love small ice chunks, like sno cone ice- they have that too. The wait will most likely be an hour so make sure you check out the wine bar next door while you wait. The service there is great and they are very accomodating when you tell them you need a quick bill because your name was called next door.

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    I have been to many sushi restaurants across the country and this is the best I have had. Pros: - affordable sushi - fresh fish - the portions are HUGE! - everything is sooooo delicious because it's so fresh - extensive menu for those who don't like raw fish Cons: - definitely the wait (but it's worth it) - the sushi chefs work quickly, but the wait for the food can take a while - you can only order once - they're only open for dinner - very limited seating - parking sucks!!! - no split checks, one check per table (making it difficult for groups) Tips: - get here at least an hour early esp. on a weekend - if you're in a large group, get here even earlier! - snag a seat once you get in; one time the guy told my roommate & I that there was a table for 2 open in the back so we left the bar... there was no table and the seats we were sitting on were taken, so he made us wait until someone left for his mistake - order immediately if possible; the more orders that come in before yours, the longer the wait - you can only order once, so order extra - but don't order too much, I can get full easily off of 4 plates - if you're in a group, keep track of what you're ordering so it's easy to calculate your share later - plan to spend at least 2-3 hrs here Favorites: - Torosake (Salmon Belly--more rich than regular salmon & melts in your mouth!) - Toro (Rich Tuna--a bit fattier than the regular tuna, but more flavorful) - Unagi (Eel) - California Roll w/Real Crab

    (5)

  • Caroline T.

    Huge Huge sushi! I'm just amazed on how big everything is! I'm from CA and i don't know any sushi joint that makes sushi as if it's on steroids. i saw someone eating a handroll and it was the size of a burrito! Saburo's is a small place w. a long wait. We waited about 40 mins on a friday night. -salmon skin roll salad: not only did we get the skin, we got some of the fish in there too. it was ok; the dressing was a little creamy. -poke salad: huge pieces of tuna in the salad but there were onions galore -_- -salmon belly & hamachi sashimi: thick THICK pieces of fish! the salmon belly melted in my mouth -sweet shrimp: it was my first time trying raw shrimp and it was huge! i never eat all of the rice cus it's too filling. it was slimy but had a good texture and flavor -creamy scallop nigiri: plump scallops! -agedashi tofu: yum yum i love tofu I'm coming back one more time before i leave Oregon

    (4)

  • Cliff L.

    Sushi Awesomeness. The legendary Saburo's portion is what keeps me come back for more. In fact, this is my number #1 choice when I want some quality sushi. Speaking of quality, aside from the giant portion, the fish and seafood are very fresh. I have eaten sushi around Portland, I have to say it may be the freshest in Portland. But I do have to mention, prepare to wait a long time to be seated and your sushi to be made.

    (5)

  • Shane S.

    After a couple more visits I would like to downgrade my original rating. The nigiri is very good but the rolls are lackluster and bland. Seating is too cramped and wait too long. Its good but I would much rather go where I can sit comfortably and get a better variety.

    (3)

  • Matt S.

    I love this place and I don't care what you sushi snobs say about it. Saburo's is what it is and doesn't try to be anything more. Large portions? Oh yes Quick service? Uh, yeah, it needs to be with how long of a wait they have Friendly staff? Yup, the people there are polite and efficient Again, it is not the fanciest sushi you will ever have. But my friends and I make a regular pilgrimage to this place. It also doesn't hurt that there are plenty of bars around the area to help pass the time as you wait for your table.

    (5)

  • Nai S.

    I love places that have a unique taste to them. Saburo has it's own flavor when it comes to sushi. The portions are huge and yet delicious. The only reason why I can't give it a 5 is because I don't feel there is anything super special about it. Besides just making really good sushi nothing stands out to me. The only bad thing about this place is the wait. For some it's not worth it but I would say it is. Unlike a lot of sushi places that all taste the same Saburo has a unique flavor to it's sushi. I would recommend getting the California Rolls with real crab which is only $5. Ridiculously cheap for real crab.

    (4)

  • Heidi S.

    Saburo's is such a great lil sushi place! If you can't handle a wait and a small dine-in, then don't bother going... it's busy and cozy. The sushi is super tasty and portion size is HUGE! I am not a fan of their bento, as I didn't find it to be all that noteworthy. The sushi is where it's at. If you want sushi at a great price and something to fill your belly, then I recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Have you heard the saying " The more I hang out with you, the less I like you." That sums up my relationship with Saburo. First time Five stars WOW huge sushi This is awesome! Budokhan Roll And Spicy Tuna Salad are two of my favorite dishes here. Next few times Four Stars OK long line, long wait, but still huge sushi. Sweet! Last few times to present. Three Stars long line, long wait, this sushi is huge but the I have noticed that the fish quality has been going down over the past few years. Maybe its just me. I wish there was a better microbrew beer selection. Sorry Widmer doesn't cut it, at least for me. I do like the atmosphere when it is busy. The chaos is soothing. But, when I start to question the quality of food, especially raw fish. Then I start to question what other places should I go try instead. I tell people to check out Saburo if they have never eaten here. It's still a good experience. It's hard to "time" the wait list but there are a few good bars within walking distance, especially the wine bar next door.

    (3)

  • Megan S.

    I was super excited to try out this sushi place, and the anticipation grew as my friends and I waited for over an hour to be seated. The atmosphere was bustling and tidy, but average. The service was friendly, and the sushi rolls were massive and really fresh. It was delicious. Was it worth the wait? Did it live up to the hype and expectation? Not really. I prefer being able to pick up my sushi with chopsticks and pop them into my mouth in one bite. Despite the deliciousness and freshness, these were far too large to eat without taking several bites and destroying the entire roll in the process. I live a few blocks away, but if I had to choose between driving to a more expensive place, with smaller portions, I would. I'm giving it three stars because I really did find the service great, and the food tasty, but I probably wouldn't torture myself by waiting that long ever again.

    (3)

  • Jaslyn C.

    Saburo's used to be the best sushi in town. Now, it is made sloppily, without soul or love. The rolls were thrown together, and soggy. Sushi should never be soggy. The mussels were... foul. And the shells had been dyed lime green, which brought me face to face with what I never wanted to admit about Saburos: Their fish is not sustainably sourced. Used to be delicious, now it is terrible. Go somewhere that loves food.

    (1)

  • Jadyn N.

    The Best Sushi in town. Saburo's sushi is like no other. Each pieces is nice and fresh and so so good. One pieces of sushi from here is like two pieces at other sushi places. It worth the wait to eat here. You wait in line for about a hour, but I got to tell you it worth the wait. I have taken a lot of my friends here and everyone has love it. The place is small so there always a line there, but the price is good for the size of sushi you get. A good place to take people from out of town.

    (5)

  • Arcii R.

    Best sushi I've had in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, etc. Hands down. Cheap and the rolls are on steriods, the fish pieces are the size of my fist, no joke!! I have high sushi standards and this place meets them all. Fresh, affordable, delicious and fast(once you're seated) Only downside is often you have to wait 30+ minutes outside before getting a seat. I think they should expand and open another location! Must try their Hawaiian roll and spicy tuna salad. Yummy. The big O is also super good. Everything here is outstanding and well worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Matthew S.

    The sushi there is good and they are def. great with portion size...The house rolls are crazy big. My only negative remarks are the lack of space, especially if you were in a group more then 4 and the service could be slightly better.

    (4)

  • Lo G.

    Saburo's remains at the top of Portland's Sushi restaurant list. The long lines, however, are getting old. It is time for Saburo's to expand the business elsewhere, like other, less fine sushi restaurants have been doing throughout the city. There is something to be said for ambiance when having sushi. Saburo's ignores all the niceties of Japanese culture by cramming people in like a herd of starving cattle. Sure, the portions are supersized and the cost is kept low, but is it worth the feeling of being on display like a sardine in a can? Get with the program! Open a Saburo's in downtown Vancouver or something already!

    (4)

  • Noah K.

    I'm sorry I have to do this to Saburo's because I know they have great sushi, but as of now I've been there 4 times, and I've only managed to eat there once, and my most recent visit will be the last. I read another review on here from someone who said it perfect, she said that Saburo's knows their food is good, but they refuse to expand their operation to meet the customer's need for it. I don't mind waiting for a while to eat good food, but it doesn't give them any excuse to allow their service to be WAY below par, they act like just because they have some of the better sushi in PDX they can treat you like crap because of it, its called the service industry for a reason! I don't do reviews like this (by this I mean giving them 1 star for something other than food) but my latest experience is worthy of a zero star rating. So my wife is NOT a sushi fan, its pretty rare that I get to eat sushi so when I do I want to make it count! One night about 3 weeks ago my wife said "Hey let's get sushi tonight, I will try whatever you get because I know how much you like it!" ... Music to my ears! ;-) So I started looking online at places in my neighborhood because I wasn't sure that I wanted to venture over to SE, there is a place called Maki in my neighborhood that has good reviews but I thought well I know that Saburo's has good sushi and maybe the wifey will like them more -- And I knew full well that they would be busy and there would be a wait, I thought well then I will just get an order to go. I looked them up online, found their website and called, it went straight to voicemail and on the voicemail it said they don't take to-go orders over the phone but they do in person. So I thought no worries, I will go down there and get a to go order in person. Once I got there, there was about 3 or 4 couples/groups waiting outside for a table, which obviously is very common there. I walked inside and stood by the entrance for a few minutes and finally I had to stop the guy and ask him if I could get a to go order, but he didn't even acknowledge me after passing me 3 or 4 times. Finally I got his attention and asked him if I could get a to-go order and he looks around and goes "no, I'm not doing any to go orders" and just walks off. No remorse whatsoever, more crap customer service just like when you eat there and they want you to get in and out as quick as possible and dont care if they make you uncomfortable by letting you know they want you to hurry up. The bottom line here is - service like that is unacceptable. If had he looked around and said "hey man I'm sorry but there's some people that have been waiting here for quite a while and unless you want to wait for them to get seated I'm just can't do it now" -- I would have still been not happy, but at least would've understood where he is coming from, but the way he said it was just the most unbelievable crap ever, and especially since they don't say anything about it over the phone, they don't even answer the phone! Its a joke, screw you Saburo's! Get over yourself, almost of all of the bad reviews on Yelp are related to your awful customer service.

    (1)

  • Ryan C.

    don't be stupid and order accordingly. we ordered too much and the sushi were HUMONGOUS... i thought i'm a walking-talking-rice-munching-machine. even my stomach can't take the amount of rice... i can safely say, the cooked dishes are mediocre but the sushi are fresh and good! get the uni (sea urchin) topped with raw quail egg. dude, this hits the ball out of the park! creamy goodness!!

    (5)

  • Jeff Y.

    Sometimes, you just have to accept something for what it is. Saburo doesn't pretend to be authentic (um ... they don't put cream cheese on sushi rolls in Japan), and it doesn't pretend to be the best sushi joint in town. What is it? Saburo is the gigantic, 72 ounce steak challenge of sushi restaurants. What does that mean? What it means is that instead of getting Japanese style sushi, where everything is a delicately balanced ballet bite of flavors, you get everything "American style". The portions here are all measured by the same fat guy that created the Sizzler all you can eat buffet, the 72 ounce steak that they used to serve at the Old Country Kitchen, the 12 egg omelet, and the double-double animal style. The nigiri sushi here is the equivalent of an entire fillet-o-fish slapped on a bed of rice. You wouldn't know it though, because you can't see the rice under the fillet. The rolls here are all about the same thickness as my forearm. No human can consume one piece of their rolls in one bite. In fact, word of advice, best to deconstruct the roll into individual bites. But, how is any of this a bad thing? When I feel like stuffing my insides with inordinate amounts of fresh fish at a bargain basement price, Saburo is my pick. Yes, the wait is long, but the wait is always long when people can sniff a bargain. Just check out Ben n Jerry's on free cone day. I've never had bad fish here. If you want to try something off the beaten path, get the broiled hamachi collar. The collar is the most flavorful, deliciously fatty part of the hamachi. When you broil it and serve it with a light ponzu sauce and grated daikon radish, its delicious. And cheap, since most fish markets toss the collar. Warning: the service typically sucks. Its better now. But the mama-san that used to run the "front of the house" was half soup nazi. She would yell at you, chastise you for trying to order more than once, refuse take out orders, and generally act like a frigid you know what. I still would not expect to get 5-star service here. Just wait in line for 2 hours for your table, order your sushi, eat your fish and go.

    (3)

  • Anuj K.

    Get here early and know what you want so it doesn't take an hour for your food to come out. Quality - decent Quantity - explosive Wait - at least an hour Is it worth it? Once in a while if you have a huge craving, but there's only so much that can be eaten. Take friends, then you can share!

    (3)

  • Tony X.

    Be sure to go a hour early cause most of the time there will be line. Price is fair due to the giant rolls they give you. The food there taste great and fresh but some of the rolls were a little sweet. Maybe it's cause I have small eyes but this place was hard to find.

    (4)

  • Erin C.

    Is bigger really better? If you want to eat a bite of rice, a bite of cucumber and then a bite of fish all seperately.. then you'll like saburo's rolls. The size doesn't really allow you to taste the wonderful combination of the maki ingredients in my opinion. nigiri on the other hand however is pretty ok. It may seem large portion and cheap for the price but somehow i always ended up paying the same amount if i were to eat anywhere else... why is that?!

    (3)

  • Louis J.

    Don't believe the hype !!! This place is nothing special . Its quantity over quality . Huge junks of below sushi grade quality fish . Cramped and dirty . Bad service . Only reason I came in to saburos is iv seen people waiting in line for years and had to see what was so special . It was a let down

    (2)

  • Rob D.

    There must have been a reason why we have avoided going here for three years. I found at least five of them. Why there are hordes of people standing outside of this joint is beside me. Tonight there was nobody waiting outside at 5:07PM. I have to give two stars to the staff. They were prompt and polite. Let me also come clean here and tell you that I understand that Saburos is a big machine. Big machines are not going to be personable and extremely attentive. I am not some pathetic shit who needs to be coddled, nor do I think that the waiter is going to sit in my lap and whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Now, for an overview of one of the least impressive experiences I have ever had... First up was edamame. My advice would be SKIP this. Over steamed and salted with plain table salt. I hate to seem like an edamame snob but this was awful. Oysters are on special right now. We live dangerously a few times each year and ordered the half dozen. They arrived with a haphazard bed of ripped iceburg lettuce leaves. Each oyster was swimming in a ponzu sauce. I liked them but my oyster aficionado wife said they sucked. We then received the spicy tuna handroll. FOR THE LOVE OF... This monstrosity is wrapped in a FULL sheet of nori. Thanks a lot chef... I was feeling a little bit inadequate with that giant phallice. Too much. Next on deck was a creamy scallop roll. This was actually tasty, but again way too big. I hate to be complaining about getting MORE but this is sushi for f*ck's sake. The main course arrived. We went with the chef's choice sashimi. The first assortment was decent: yellow tail, salmon, tuna, albacore, prawn, mackerel, and snapper. The way they cut this sashimi is just odd to me. Hira Zukumi is a thick cut but this one seemed even thicker? We got that check and bolted out of there to seek refuge at a place that could serve the kind of cocktails that would help us forget... My suggestion for the hordes is to think outside the lemming box and seek out some cheap sushi from a joint that is better than Saburo's.

    (1)

  • Miwako T.

    I just had to check out this place and their sushi that are so much talked about (In general, I'm not a sushi eater). Well, this is a difficult one. I can see how people are giving this place 5 stars. Their sushi is HUGE. You get a lot more (I'd say 3 or 4 times as much) fish on their sushi vs. from other places because fish slices are large and THICK!! But, to me, the place wasn't worth 5 or 4 stars. I'd give it 3-1/2 if I could.We ordered tempura and gyoza (gyoza is REALLY deep-fried in the tempura batter, though they don't seem to tell you that in the menu. I wouldn't expect this from a Japanese restaurant.) and, though I was happy with the quantity, not the quality. I don't know what exactly is wrong. But they don't taste right. Even the sauce(s? I think they came with the same sauce) they came with were kind of plain sour (for me) and not tasty. And, no radish was served with tempura. The food felt too fastfood-like. We also ordered katudon and that was ok. Sushi Deluxe was good. The on-line menu says it comes with miso soup but it did not. The rice tasted good and my 4-year-old loved them (tamago, veg rolls). Oh, and I loved the tea this place served. Tasted like genmai tea (but didn't see any grain in it). Also, friendly waiter too. The decor seems more "down to earth" or "modern" or whatever. They have kabuki posters along the wall and they are framed in those plastic frames. They have a neat sushi wallclock on the wall. .. But all of this somehow didn't give me the feel that I was in a Japanese restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kevin B.

    From the nightly lines outside Saburo's, it's clear that the people of Portland have spoken. They love cheap, mammoth portions of sushi and they don't care what it tastes like! Whenever I see that two hour long line outside of this Sellwood-Moreland area Japanese joint I want to slap everyone out of their trance-like state and remind them of two things. 1. Less is more. There's something pretty gross about a giant slab of raw fish in your mouth. Sushi was always meant to be small and precious. That's why the chefs have knives. So they can cut the fist up before they serve it to you. If I wanted to eat an entire raw fish, I'd just go cave man style, and grab one out of the river with my bare hands. Gnaw on it right there by the river. Right next to where I pooped a few seconds before. But I can see where being the Claim Jumper of sushi would have a lot of appeal in this down economy. There's nothing like a doggy bag of rotting fish on a hot summer night. Goes really well with Dairy Queen. 2. Cheap sushi sounds like a great idea until you really think about what that means. If it's cheap for you, it means that Saburo's paid even less for it. Once again...this fish is RAW. That means uncooked. I kinda don't want to put the super cheap raw crap in my mouth. With sushi, sometimes it pays to pay a little more. Although not always. Had plenty of sucky expensive sushi in my time so I get why people line up for massive piles of raw fish at rock bottom prices. Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of Saburo's. Reasonably priced sushi in a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. But that's not what this is. This is sushi for people that don't know better and that have been conditioned by Cheesecake Factory to think that if you didn't get served enough food for a family of six people, you got ripped off. Oh. And what about the line up? Who's gonna nip this whole makin' people wait outside their restaurant trend in Portland? It's just F-ing food for god's sake.

    (2)

  • Kat N.

    Finally able to try this place out after weeks and weeks of hearing my cousin talk about it. I had tried them via take out, but wanted to see if it was better if you ate there. It was good. Not AMAZING, but what they lacked in quality they made up for in quantity. We managed to to be 2nd in line, but there was still an hour to go. A couple of people in the group decided to hold our spot while the rest of us crossed the street to get our drink on. I honestly can't remember anything that really stood out, but I do remember the raw oysters tasting really fresh and clean. I also tried uni for the first time and I don't know if it was just a bad spot to try it, but it tasted soooo nasty. I almost threw up. I really wanted to spit it out, but I figured that would be impolite. I almost want to try it again at a better place, but what if it still tastes like sea shit? We'll have to see. Overall, Saburo's is great if you want big, cheap sushi. Just be prepared to wait. And wait. And wait...

    (3)

  • mia l.

    This place is great. Great prices, great portions, and great food. The sashimi is fresh and they have great dishes! The only drawbacks though - whenever it's a holiday (like winterbreak), they aren't open. So it's always impossible for me to bring my friends here when we return to Portland to visit.

    (5)

  • Lily L.

    So we got there 30 minutes before opening! (huge line) we were by the garbage area when we lined up. Got in 2 HOURS later. so during the 2 hours, we walked around qfc( so tempted to just buy food cause we were hungry already!, the antique shop (thrif store) and talked to neigboring people about the long wait.. So we got seated. waitress/waiter came by 10 minutes later. we got our first plate of sushi 5 minutes later since we all order the big o roll. ( I recommend it) so saburos made a batch of it. After that it took 20 minutes then another 20 mins for the rest to come out. Con: -you cant take "to go", just get boxes at the end. -the graditude charge. (16 dollars for 5 people) and honestly Mcdonalds has better service then the people working. need wasabi?- too bad for you, need a box, wait 10 minutes + - no parking, so good luck with finding street parking which isnt too horrible but hard to find. - the seared salmon is reallly really fishy X.x -their back dining room forces you to cross the small kitchen area - lack of privacy, the tables were serisouly less than a feet from each other - the sushi doesnt fall apart, but it is hard to pick up, the rice is too sticky to the plate and each other! Random: -4 chefs, 1 is asian, the rest is mexican - all waiters and disherwashers are mexican - the miso soup comes out of a machine (like those coffee machines where you find at a gas station, hold this button, it comes out.) - you can only order once, so make up your mind!! - you cant really split the bill, 2 debit/credit cards per a table. This place is for people.. - who have time - dont have little kids ( so many kids whined and hated the wait) - arent disable/wheelchair (sorry the place is small and crowded) - who have less than 4 people, since it takes forever for a party of 6+ to get in. - who have some money, plan on atleast 15-20 per person Why the low rating? It's not authentic.( I had better, I am not Japanese but I can tell you it's not authentic..) It's edible, but I wouldnt get cravins about it. There's not much to praise about it.

    (1)

  • Matthew R.

    We love Saburo's! It will be a "must" stop the next time we are out in Portland. The food is fantastic and the portions are large. This isn't a place to go for the ambiance - but that's not what my wife and I really care about (We'd rather a restaurant invest in the food, not the decorations). I see a lot of complaints about the wait times, and that's a fair criticism. Luckily, we were told of this ahead of time and arrived early. We arrived at 4:30 and were already on a decent line, but we were seated immediately when they opened the doors at 5:00. If you are looking to eat at 6:30 or 7:00, you will likely be waiting a looong time - but we had no problems with the wait, since we knew what to expect going in. My wife was not a big eater of fish or sushi prior to our trip to Portland, and Saburo's made a sushi lover out of her.

    (5)

  • Ari K.

    By far the best Sushi I've ever had. A few things to watch out for though. One, the wait is about an hour minimum. This can be a good thing, what I like to do is write my name down on the list and go to The Cosmo Lounge across the street where they have dollar jello shots, just don't drink the egg nog, turns out to be a bad combo with the sushi. You don't have to worry about missing your spot because they'll call you when your turn is up. The other thing is that their portions are much larger than I am used to for sushi. Three rolls for two people is plenty. Also the Big Ol Roll, while tasty, can ruin your appetite for the rest of the meal.

    (5)

  • Carolina J.

    Since my last posting,I HAVE been to this excellent sushi joint!! I took some cool photos of the sushi,HUGE,indeed! I ended up taking a lot of it home,so I have sushi for 3 days afterwards,YUM!!! There is Sake and other Alcohol offerings available,if you feel like having a sip. However,the main focus here is upon the SUSHI. Order as you sit down,,after you've read the menu. ENJOY!! :)

    (5)

  • Evan R.

    OK I will jump into this firestorm too. There are much better places to get sushi than Saburo's in Portland. I said it I will not appologize for it. I have eaten here twice once a few years ago and then about 6 months ago both with regulars who swear it is the best place ever. Each time I thought ok lets give it a try. I love sushi and am always looking out for good eats but to me Saburo's just isnt it. The review by Joshua C is totally right on. Sushi is balance. I have been taught that by my step-mother, one of the first trained female sashimi chefs; by our family Japanese friends; and most importantly from a pure taste stand point of my own palate. Sure a roll the size of your head may be cool but it is impracticle to eat and you miss most of the flavors the roll is trying to impart. And a giant slab of fish over a tiny and not that wonderfully seasoned rice (and yes the rice for sushi is just as important as the fish) is lacking balance in so many ways it just isnt that good. I will say the amount of seafood they give you for your money is outstanding, I wonder how they pull off giving such a good deal. The fish always seems fairly fresh. And I have liked the food it is just I can see how much better it would be with a little more TLC from the chef. If you want to enjoy the best sushi in Oregon go to Syun, it is just a tad more expensive, but the fish, rice, food over all is so much better you'll be glad you paid a little more.

    (2)

  • Warren C.

    Sushi XL! Your eyes will always be larger than your stomach here. I've been going here for the last few years and this is one place that is always on my mind when I haven't filled my sushi craving and I need a big fix! As Lily J. mentions in her review the logical thing to do is to cut your order in half. Now here's the thing, I like having several selections to choose from. So in my experiences I always end up taking quite a bit home but at least I have a nice selection for my meal and also leftovers. I was just here last night and I order my usual orders of Eel, Salmon, Spicy tuna roll, Spider roll, Philly Roll, and the cucumber roll. Everything here is huge! The cuts of fish neatly and meticulously made and filled with quality and love. Between my friend and I, we end up having two small containers of to go items when we were completely full and ready to explode. If you're ever in the mood for sushi and the craving has got to be filled doubly, I would definitely recommend this place to you. I would love to give you guys 5 stars but the minimum hour wait each time I've been here makes it worth the meal but not worth the 5 stars I would like to give you. Happy Eating Everyone....

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Long waits on weekends but less of a wait on week nights. I go for the tamago sushi it's tastier than all the other places I tried. Service isn't that great the quality declines. Sushi on the other hand is same as conveyor belt sushi. Same quality but bigger size. Fish isn't the freshest but they make that up in size. Not worth waiting over an hour to get poor service, noisy restaurant and low quality giant sushi.

    (2)

  • Terry C.

    Saburo's is one of those small places where people are willing to wait and wait to get a seat. This place is only open for probably 5 hours each day. The place is jammed packed from front to the back of the place. Great portions for what you paid for. This isn't your small sushi that you expect, this is big, I mean big. The service isn't bad but I do agree with another reviewer that they seem to want you in and out as fast as they can because when a table doesn't leave that money not being made. The atmosphere isn't much at all. Wood seats, and very loud. If your going expect a wait of about 2 hours during peak hours. So I probably would grab like a granola bar while you wait or offer money to exiting customers for their food they didn't finish. The worst part about this place is the table next to the door. I've sat there twice already during the cold season and it really sucks. Waiting customers will watch you make out to the sushi your ordered and asks "what is that?" Last time I was there, there was a couple arguing about why they were dressed miles apart. One was dressed in a clubbing outfit while the other looked like an indie rocker. "Bitch, you said to dress nice, this isn't nice? I thought I tried but your all dressed up like a skank. How am I suppose to compete with that?" With the cold air running through the bickering couple and nosy people, I would have like to wait 10 extra minutes for a better table. FYI, the parking lot exit area where you have to go down the steep hill, not worth parking there. Park in the streets. If you go down that hill you'll likely will lose your bumper and destroy the bottom of your car.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    Bottom line: The sushi was so mediocre that we decided not to finish it. Add to that the 45 minute wait and dull atmosphere/decor and I really wouldn't recommend this place (other than the fact that it's the only sushi restaurant in the immediate area). The other positive is that the portion sizes were quite large, but at the cost of quality. Full disclosure: I'm a bit of a sushi snob, but I also don't leave reviews on yelp unless I feel strongly about an experience.

    (2)

  • Jason H.

    Saburo's has long been on my list of sushi to try in the area, and it's located only blocks away from where I live in Westmoreland. That said, I see lines at this place daily--it's a hoppin' joint with lines out the door so the food must be good right? My girlfriend and I got there about half an hour after they opened on a Wednesday and it was sort of disorganized in terms of whether or not you signed in somewhere or waited in line. A lot of others were confused, too, but there is a sign-up sheet right at the door where you can put your name and number of people in your party. Our wait wasn't too bad--it was about half an hour before we got a table and there are two sections of the restaurant. The first section looked super cramped and dark, but the section in the far back has huge windows that give a ton of natural lighting and light blue wallpaper that was actually really welcoming and more open. The way you order is they give you a washable marker that you mark up your menu with and then the server comes by to confirm your order and they are off! Our dishes were there actually fairly quickly--about a ten to fifteen minute wait time. We tried the fried soft-shell crab, which was diabolically delicious as an appetizer, but we founds out quickly that we had ordered far too much sushi by the time it hit our table. We were expecting regular Bamboo Sushi sized rolls, but what came were Bamboo's roided out cousins. The rolls are absolutely the largest sushi rolls I've ever seen, but what's great is that the freshness and the finesse of the product is not squashed by this fact. We got a ton of different types from their Veggie Budokhan roll (avocado and cucumber with charred broccoli and other veggies) to a fresh crab sashimi, which was dazzling, and I have to tell you if you get the smoked salmon nigiri you will literally have the largest cut of salmon you've ever seen on rice. Again, size is everything, sure, and their avocado rolls are pretty ridiculously huge, but they don't sabotage flavor or offer a cheap dining experience. The atmosphere is lively, the food was amazing, and you're almost encouraged to take food home--we had leftovers that's for sure. I wouldn't say I would trade in my love of Bamboo for Saburo's, but it's definitely in my top 3 sushi spots in Portland--one you have got to check out if you're a fan of this cuisine.

    (4)

  • Yan H.

    Holy crap the sushi is huge! Forget sensible portions, and throwaway traditional nigiri-zushi sizes... I am completely for eating a giant tasty piece of fish. It's delicious, it's flavorful, and it's my new facebook banner. Also I enjoy a good broiled fish collar, and the hamachi collar here is done right. Yes the purist in me has some issues, but forget him... delicious is delicious. It's not like this place is arranged like some high-end omakase place, nor are we charged a bill reflecting that. Appreciate what you have Portland, I sadly must return to a city of more modest fish... bleh.

    (5)

  • Chingy W.

    Big and scrumptious sushi, tempura veggies, veggie yakisoba, cucumber seaweed salad bento box all for $10 bucks and did i mention its scrumptious?! It hit the spot after my intensive run. Need I say more ? I went right before closing so theres no line but the server looked pissed Oh well.

    (5)

  • Aaron G.

    Ben recommended that we go here for sushi. So like the mindless sheep we are, Marianne and I drove here hoping for some fantastic sushi. I also read the yelp reviews and expected a lot. The wait wasn't too bad... it gave us a chance to really go over the menu. The first thing that came to mind was DAYAM!! cheap cheap cheap. At that moment, i told myself i was going to order to my heart's content. I had no idea what kind of mess i was getting myself into. We ordered 2 california rolls, 2 spicy tuna rolls, 2 of some shrimp tempura roll, a spider roll, another roll for which i forgot its name, uni nigiri, salmon belly nigiri, creamy scallop nigiri, a miso soup, agadashi tofu, and a large kirin. 2 rolls were actually for a friend we were going to bring food to. Anyhoo, i didn't realize that the rolls would come out to be the size of a tiny kitten (why i used the size of a kitten for this comparison, I really don't know.) I got through all the nigiri and 2 rolls. Marianne ate one roll and we finished the soup and tofu. This left us with 3 rolls... and i'm not even including the 2 that were for our friend. The sushi was made with too much rice and being such big portions, its like you were eating 50% to 75% rice and the rest was the fish and stuff. I also thought the rolls weren't particularly tasty. Maybe i'm a sushi snob but I felt like it wasn't that awesome. All it had going for it was its size. I was so full that i knew i was going to go into a food coma, a really really uncomfortable one...

    (3)

  • Minji L.

    The line is ridiculous... an hour for dinner. I was really expecting something amazing since we had to wait for so long. Well, I quickly realized that I can do without super-sized sushi that looks like it's on steroids... I also got food poisoning after eating their tuna, so that was really a no for me. I won't be coming back.

    (2)

  • Susan C.

    Saburo is one of those places you go to for shock value. It's like a tourist trap. Don't get me wrong, it is one of my faves and the sushi is delicious. But the length of the wait is outrageous, as is the portion sizes. A few tips: don't go in large groups (you'll wait much longer), arrive by 4:30pm or before they open, and if you normally order four maki rolls or nigiri in a typical restaurant, I'd stick with two. Trust me, they are the size of my head.

    (4)

  • Alex T.

    There's a reason this place always has a line outside every day. It's one of the best places for sushi. Big portions at good prices. Good enough for me. The yakisoba isn't so great though, it tastes kind of weird but overall, it's a must for anyone who likes Japanese.

    (5)

  • Tet W.

    I came to Saburo's for a late night dinner. The wait was kinda long considering we came around 9pm and we waited about 40 to 45 minutes. Once we got in our order was promptly taken. We ordered the gyoza as an appetizer. These were a bit crunchy rather than crispy but it was good nonetheless. I also ordered the hamachi, Saba and ungainly nigiri sushi. These were pretty huge considering they should be bite size pieces. They were twice the size I typically see in most sushi restaurants. We also ordered 4 rolls: caterpillar, dragon, rainbow and sunset rolls. All the rolls were mega huge! Honestly I've never seen rolls this big. Not even at King of The Roll!! Anyway, they were all very well done but due to the size of the rolls, eating them was a real mess. This is a draw back since sushi typically should be clean and easy to eat. Anyway, if you are into portion size, there is no place better than Saburo's. The price absolutely cannot be beat. Honestly be ready to spend twice as much for a sushi dinner with almost twice as less food going to other establishments in Portland compared to Saburo's. This place is in high demand for sushi lovers so be prepared for a wait especially in the weekends. It is not unusual for people to wait over an hour to get in. The place is really small, so it cannot accommodate large crowds well. They do not take reservations so if you want to give this place a try without the hassle of the crowds, get there about 15 to 20 minutes prior to opening, otherwise you'll be waiting, All in all, our experience was very positive. The staff was very friendly and our food came out promptly even when it was crazy busy. I highly recommend giving this place a try if you love sushi or better yet a bargain! Go hungry or you'll kick yourself.

    (4)

  • Sonia S.

    The sushi here is fantastic. It is so fresh, the pieces are extremely large, and plenty of variety. It is a great place to go if its nice outside, and you dont mind having to wait around a little bit for seating. Since there is always an intense line around the corner, the service is very efficient however you feel like you shouldnt dilly dally around... so it is a good place to eat if you are more concerned about the actual noshing. Love how they allow you to write your name on the list and then walk around so you dont just have to stand in line forever. If you want to be in the first wave of people though, plan on getting there at least a half hour before open, and make sure you are dressed to wait outside!

    (4)

  • Raul M.

    Super long wait for nothing

    (1)

  • Angik S.

    Food is good and relatively cheap. Service is awful and RUDE. DO NOT GO ON Friday, Saturday or Sunday. After the long wait, we were told that we could order only once! Ludicrous. We ordered Crunchy Alaskan role- decent taste; big size; nothing spectacular. Hamachi nigiri: really bad. Seared salmon nigiri: best of the lot. Salmon belly nigiri: pretty good Scallop roll: pretty good Unagi roll: best among the lot. Salmon roe nigiri: avoid it Shrimp nigiri: okay The best dish was salmon teriyaki. That is the only one worth ordering again. I have been to Saburo earlier and loved it. Not sure if their quality had gone downhill but it was not worth visiting again.

    (3)

  • John R.

    My 5 star rating is based in their food and food alone because there are several other things one could nit-pick about Saburo's which I'll mention, but my rating is based only on their food. The wait- expect to wait up to an hour to eat. This place always has a long, long wait. I believe it opens at 5pm, and the wait probably starts around 4. The decor is nothing special, with some cafeteria style seating and very small two person tables scattered around the place. All that said the sushi is the best I've ever had. It always seems prepared fresh and the serving sizes are quite big. Keep this in mind when you order. I have never not ordered way too much. I recommend you under-order and plan on ordering more should you still be hungry. Saburo's is my favorite sushi restaurant around, and their prices are reasonable.

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    A truly disgusting experiece. Japanese cuisine is far more about presentation, quality, and atmosphere than it is about shoveling hunks of fish into one's mouth. This restaurant is designed to appeal to the typical American -- everything is super-sized and meaty. The fish is the same as everywhere else (pretty much every sushi restaurant in town get their fish from the exact same place). No real wasabi. No uncooked octopus or scallop. Terrible presentation. All farmed salmon Revolutingly huge sides of fish per each sushi.

    (1)

  • Mike K.

    Since I'm in the minority in thinking this place blows I'll give you the good first. 1. It's cheap. 2. The Eel is very good. THAT SAID . . . I can't begin to understand why this place is so overrated. The portions are not huge they are incorrect. I love big portions, I'll eat a steak the size of plate without blinking an eye and I'm very good with chopsticks and shoving food into my mouth. But sushi is about bite size islands of goodness and Saburo's doesn't give you that. Instead you get bland flavors, a ton of rice, small pieces of regular fish, and no wonderful island goodness. The rolls themselves are utterly uninspired. Want to see how many rolls you can make out of cucumber, imitation crab meat, and cream cheese? Then come on down! I wasn't expecting ambiance, but something about people peering through a window checking on your progress so they can get seated really made me feel like a turkey around mid November. Not a fan but if you decide to believe the other 52 people who have reviewed this place do yourself a favor, order the eel and pick up the tab for your girlfriend and her parents.

    (2)

  • Pete F.

    They have the largest sushi in town, not really a fan of their sushi rice breaks too easily. Be there early, other wise expect a long wait in line.

    (4)

  • Julian P.

    BEST SUSHI IN PORTLAND, HANDS DOWN! anyone who gave this place a poor review has NO IDEA what they are talking about. 1) food is great, and the portions are huge, so you get tons of high quality delicious fish for very little dinero. no joke, you get like half the eel when you get an unagi nigiri 2) so f'N GOOD 3) spend $15, eat like a king and have food left over, HEAVEN! 4) if this place ever leaves portland i will weep like a small child who feels as if the world is empty (it is without sushi from SABURO's!!!!) 5) how could you complain about this place, seriously?! it is delicious, i have been like 10+ times AND ALWAYS LOVE IT. for those who don't like it, GOOD, don't come back - more for the rest of us! Shorter line! Ill gladly eat you share (and more!). But seriously, this place is great! Cheers

    (5)

  • Juan H.

    My favorite place to east in the whole world. I always get here before five so you can avoid the wait.. It's annoying to see People who don't like this place because the sushi is too big, or for having to wait. I personally have witnessed over the years, the owner of this palce take great pride in this establishment. It is very apparent that he cares about quality, freshness and the customers. He has kept the prices low to keep loyal customers coming back. Not becasue he's skimping on the fish. I have never experienced dirty dining or any other negative service. It's true they do close two times a year and there is always a wait. You can always go grab a beer and come back, it's well worth the wait. Even if you're passed up on the waiting list they get you in the very next table. i have been going here for ten years and I will continue to go. I must say that if you like spicy tuna hand roll... You will have must get one here! It's huge and it's very satisfying.. Come to Saburo's if you want what experts know is the real.. Have a spider roll too. It's hard for me to refrain from bias comments but this place is my favorite place to eat ever! Disregard reviews criticizing for the pieces being too big. If you don't like their sushi I'd challenge that person's love for it in general. That being said, yes they are large and perhaps not for the faint of heart. I would suggest this as a great first date because it is fun watching people try to get the pieces to their mouths with chopsticks.It's a challenge and there's lot's of dropping fish and splattering of soy sauce and wasabi so wear a bib or a crappy t-shirt. Fun plae and for a great price!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Now, before I get pelted to death with raw fish, let me say that I WANTED to love this place. I heard so many great things about it from my friends, saw what the Yelpers had to say, and was really excited to try out what I expected was going to be my new favorite sushi joint. Yeah, not so much. Let me start out by saying some nice things about the place. The location is nice, and parking wasn't hard to find. I have to say that the sushi rolls here are the biggest I've seen by far, and as one person said, I couldn't believe they made sushi you had to eat with two hands! For the size of the rolls, this place was dirt cheap. Now that I've played nice, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty. The fish wasn't that great. Oh yeah, I said it. The fish was not nearly as fresh as other places I've eaten at which would account for why it's so cheap. Fresh, top-quality fish is spendy! I've been to places where the sushi wasn't edible, but that wasn't the case here. It was just that it didn't leave a lasting impression. The other issue I had was the wait. I suppose if you are a lover of the restaurant then you wouldn't mind; however, I was not. Imagine how I feel about the 1-hour+ of my life I can't get back? I thought Jenna's suggestion about the happy hour was a good one though for those of you who do like this place and need to find a way to kill time. Lastly, and probably the biggest reason I probably won't eat here again is the service. Oh Lord, that service. *shakes head* They barely talk to you, throw the food down on the table, and you are never allowed to order again. I felt like I was in Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" episode! I was told that was par for the course with this place. There are some places you'll travel to great lengths to (it took us nearly an hour in traffic to get out there) for a good meal. This isn't one of them. Let the fish-slapping begin!

    (2)

  • Kody L.

    I can't believe how all over the place ratings are for Saburo's, especially the bad ones considering this is any college student's dream sushi spot . From my history with this place (I've been here several times over the years), these are the valid points: Good: -- Huge portions for cheap! -- Eel is highly recommended. -- The sushi is pretty damn good (I wouldn't claim the best). -- Great for sushi virgins. Bad: -- The wait (you're looking upwards of an hour on a busy night) -- The service (why focus on it when you have no trouble attracting customers) -- Dirty, cafeteria-style environment. (not really dirty, but could use a remodel) Here's how to have it all: --Go on a Monday evening when the wait is around 10 minutes at high dinner time. --Get the eel, edamame and salmon nigiri (it really is more tender than most standard-quality places), and at least a couple rolls. --Bring cash (there's a two credit card limit per table). --Limit the group size to four people. --Ignore the hype and by-the-book sushi ratings. It is what it is: huge portions of cheap sushi. I love Saburo's and hope all my friends can experience it. It's worth the wait and gives you a nice hour to kill checking out nearby bars. I personally appreciate this because I never make my way to that part of town and it's worth exploring.

    (3)

  • S.Marie C.

    Love, love, love this place for Sushi. And the long wait . . .well it's just part of the experience. Every now and then we hit it just right and we don't have to wait. It's our favorite local place to bring our Sushi loving friends and family because the fish is so fresh, the portions are huge, and Sushi lovers are always impressed. Yes it's loud, the wait is long, and the service is . . . . well busy . . . and we love every bit of the experience.

    (5)

  • Natascha C.

    I love sushi and I have eaten a lot of sushi. This is the best sushi I have EVER had. The portions are huge. The price seems high, but what you get for your money is phenomenal value. If you love sushi you have to go to Saburo's! I know I'll be back time and time again.

    (5)

  • alice t.

    this place used to be so great...but now quality control just flew out the window. I ordered a chicken rice bowl, but received what looked like chicken and some soupy like brown rice mix, which neither looked nor tasted good. there was entirely too much sugar in the sauce and too much sauce on the bowl. maybe the should try their own dishes occasionally to check the taste because it was certainly disappointing. even the sushi has gone down in size and freshness. sad things arenrt the same anymore.

    (2)

  • ToniAnn M.

    Size DOES matter! When it comes to sushi, I feel that a roll, or nigiri alike should be like having a "little" party in your mouth. What fun is the party when half of the guests have to wait outside because they can't fit in? The pieces are way too big! The fish is fresh, but the seaweed is a bit too chewy. The presentation is sloppy.... I mean the rolls are so big you already run the risk of "sushi roadkill" on your plate without any help from the not so sticky rice & the pieces not being cut through all the way. Not impressed. I agree with previous reviews saying quantity does NOT equal quality. It was just no fun for me.

    (2)

  • Brock F.

    If you are a sushi snob, skip this place. Sure, just like Claim Jumper, you get more, but more of what? Eating sashimi should make me a happy camper; waiting 1+ hour, loud music and noisy atmosphere, enduring rude help who pushes you to order and stuff it down quick, and then realizing that the mushy tasteless fish must be the rejects from the better sushi bars put the kibosh on any food pleasure. I'd rather have wasabi stuffed up my nose than try this again.

    (1)

  • angie w.

    We had heard all about this place, and people were raving about it. Supposedly, they had the BEST sushi and because it was SO good, the restaurant was always WAY busy, therefore, you could only order once (kind of arrogant, or so I thought), so you were warned ahead of time by the food servers and sushi chefs to order enough food, that way you'd be sure to walk out the door feeling full and satisfied. Our experience of Saburo left us neither feeling full nor satisfied. Gross! (I seriously felt the need to stop and buy some Rolaids on our way home!) True to the rumors we'd heard, the fish was huge in size, but not in taste. While we proceeded to try and gnaw our way through a few bites, we eventually gave up entirely and asked our food server for the bill. Really, this sushi is much like a giant slab of old fish placed on top some Uncle Ben's, day-old rice. So nasty. Really! I don't understand how in the world anyone could give this restaurant a good review, let alone 5 Stars. It's fishy, gross, and the restaurant downright dirty. What is it with Portland and dirty sushi restaurants? We've run into several of them since we moved here. How can anyone eat at a dirty sushi restaurant? Try Hiroshi in the Pearl District. It's clean. You can order as much as you like, when you like, and take your time ordering. There's no rush. (Hmph, imagine that!) They have amazing fish (small in size, yet HUGE in taste), in fact, it's the best we've come across in the (4) years we've lived in the Portland area.

    (1)

  • Liz W.

    I consider myself to be a bit of a sushi snob. I suppose working in one of LA's top sushi joints can do that to you. However, I would trade a meal at Nobu for a meal at Saburo's any day. I wont waste time talking about the long wait because I feel the other reviews gave it its due. Just go up to the bar on the corner and grab a beer while you wait. The seating is a bit smooshy, and you will inevitably take part in your neighbors' conversations. But who doesn't like making new friends? The sushi is divine, the portions are amazing and the sake is VERY reasonable. I recommend the g sake. I've ordered that same bottle at other restaurants and it has been more than twice as expensive.

    (5)

  • Autobon Auto Sales, LLC. A.

    My favorite sushi restaurant! The wait is so worth it and the service is great!

    (5)

  • Dan K.

    This sushi is good. At first glance, prices seem to be the same as anywhere else. But the portions are humongous, so it's a good value. The unagi pieces are 6 inches long, which is simultaneously heavenly and sort-of disgusting. The rolls aren't as good because the high rice-to-insides ratio throws off the flavor. The fish tastes fresher than any other sushi place in this general price range. Be conservative in how much you order because it's a lot of food!

    (4)

  • Sean M.

    The sushi was great, but the damn wait was long...I guess you just need to make sure you get there early. The portions are huge as far as the sushi goes. I gurantee you wont get jipped on portions. Very packed and overall the sush was worth the wait!!!

    (4)

  • Maricris F.

    This place is one of a kind place. It's not no fancy place either. It is not a place where you can make reservations. The price and quality of the seafood served here is is pretty good. I mean they are pretty big portions for a decent price. The only problem is that you have to wait a very long time just to get in. But it is well worth the wai.

    (4)

  • Jay Y.

    Solid 4 star establishment.. -very affordable -HUGE cuts of sashimi/nigiri and rolls, (2-3 bite minimum) -solid sushi, not the absolute best, but very worth the amount you're paying -Plus, they offered Sapporo and Kirin on tap, which makes me a happy boy. My Experience: -earlier today at around 6p, I had to wait about an hour for a party of two... go there early!!! at least an hour before you plan on eating -for two (hungry) people, we ordered 5 nigiri pleates (eel, bluefin tuna, yellowtail, creamy scallop, and salmon) and 2 rolls (budokhan and spider, which is soft shell crab..mmmm) --Favorite: Yellowtail - it was soft and buttery, nice clean flavor --Least Fav: (aside from eel.. I'm just not a fan) Bluefin Tuna - IMO, it was just not worth the high premium. The taste was a little off, kind of old.. perhaps its not very popular and so its been shelved for a while, I don't know. -As a result, we were absolutely stuffed. We both had to cut off about half the rice from each nigiri and roll piece.. it was just too much. Though, we were both in a state of euphoria. All in all, I really enjoyed the food and the place. Its small and cozy, which is why it takes so long to get in, but its got a pretty good vibe. I am definitely a fan!

    (4)

  • Tyler T.

    Ok sushi but worst customer service I have ever experienced. We ordered $90 worth of sushi, and they only gave us a tiny bit of wasabi and ginger. It got even worse when they charged us $1 for a small side of ginger. What kind of sushi place would charge for ginger? Saburo is probably the only place. %15 gratuity is always charged on the bill doesnt matter how many people there is and whether or not you are happy with their service. I am really not going back here ever again....

    (1)

  • Laura W.

    Not impressed. Food was fine but the service was awful -- rushed, rude, and never brought water even after we asked. They acted like we were an imposition on their evening. No plans to return.

    (2)

  • H.V. P.

    This was my second time at Saburo. My girlfriend and I were driving to Seattle, WA from Sacramento, CA and decided we wanted to eat here. It opens at 5pm and when we got there at 5:30pm, there was still a big line outside. I walked in to get a menu and saw a few empty tables, then walked back out. We were seated about 15minutes later and ordered the Assorted sashimi platter (7 chef's choice sashimi, a california roll, and miso soup), a karate roll, a sunset roll, and two uni. The sashimi were salmon, tuna, tamago (sweet egg omelete), ebi, squid, and hamachi. My favorite thing about this place is the amazing size of the sushi! yum! never have i seen sushi so big. The price is very cheap considering the size of the fish slices they put in the sushi. You might be concern with how to bite into each piece, but unlike most sushi, the seaweed that they use rips easily. That way, its easier to take multiple bites. The service was really good. I felt bad for calling them over so many times to fill up our tea, but after about the third fill, they got the idea. I did notice that there were a few empty tables while there were still people waiting outside. I don't remember seeing all the tables being filled at one particular time. Tactics? who knows? The sashimi was really good. pretty soft. A lot fresher than one would think since each pieces were so big. **EDIT: Considering that I have had uni prepared in front of my eyes straight from sea urchin, I would say I know what a fresh, delicious uni taste like. From experience, most uni that I have had typically range within a yellow (ligt to dark) color, the ones I had at Saburo's were more along of a brownish. Considering that, I concluded that the uni was not fresh when I tried it at Saburo. Who knows, brown could be normal for uni, I've just never seen it. Our total came to just under $30 for two people. a fair price for the amount of food and satisfaction.

    (4)

  • Darcie S.

    Biggest sushi ever! The place isn't fancy and you are going to wait 30+ mins, but I thought the fish was of good quality, the food is nicely presented and once we ordered, we didn't have to wait long for our food. Service was nice. Definitely need to try this place. We happened to go on a Monday night and only wait for 10 minutes.

    (4)

  • T V.

    I don't even care if it's authentic - Saburo's is that good. The rolls are ginormous and flavorful; the fish is always fresh. I think the sashimi is cut a little too thickly and it's awkward to eat sushi that you can't fit in your mouth in one bite. But it's a great place for friends. Super casual and the decor is... lacking, but that's not why you come to Saburo's anyway. The service is good, considering how busy it always is and sometimes it seems like they just wanna shuffle you out. It's also typically a 30-45 minute wait (once we waited almost 2 hours!) so we sometimes head up to get a frap at the Starbucks nearby or take a walk to work up our appetite. Don't get too caught up on authenticity and you'll love this place.

    (5)

  • William J.

    This is a pretty good Sushi place located in the SE part of Portland. Expect long waits (up to 2 hours) especially on weekend nights. The tempura is good and the portions are huge compared to your usual sushi place. The salmon on their nigiris are so big that they hang lazily off the edges of the rice. The fish tastes really fresh and the unagi is well-cooked. My favorite is the creamy scallop roll. It's a must try there. My only complaint is the service. I understand it's busy and there are people waiting but I really do feel like I'm being pushed out the door as soon as I am seated. One time, we asked for iced water and the ?manager? commented that they stopped serving iced water to save money on their water bill in a dry tone. Hopefully joking, but we still didn't get the iced water. I guess customer service is optional there.

    (4)

  • Lisa O.

    Ok firstly, i am a HUGE sushi snob. If sushi is not expensive I wont eat it, thinking that the quality has to be horrible. Saburo proved me wrong. I came in here and ordered like I usually do....the portions are about 4 times as large as normal sushi. And they do not just put extra rice oh no they quadruple the actual SUSHI....and the sushi taste great, fresh....I mean I do not understand how they afford it. I left sushi feeling STUFFED, happy and fantastic! The only downside to this is the service is average and the weight is soooo long but oh so worth it. Overall if you are a sushi fan, do not mind a long weight and do not want to blow to much cash come here you wont be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Amber B.

    I went back again today with a couple of friends, and the food was basically how I remembered it. One friend never had sushi previously (She thought it was weird), and decided she didn't like it, and the other had been there with me before. My total was $16 and I paid with a $20 bill, instead of giving me my change back they used it as a "tip" without my permission, and gave me a nice little piece of paper saying so. I said "fine". I'm not going back.

    (1)

  • Kara T.

    This place is a hit or miss kinda deal. You will always have to wait in line, sometimes the sushi is amazingly fresh and sometimes the rice is undercooked and the fish is almost on the brink of being bad, but the portions always crazy huge!!!! The udon noodles always super yummy! The grilled yellowtail collar melts in your mouth. The service is always fast and furious with a smile!! I love it and there's really nothing like it in Portland, where else can you possibly get 10lbs worth of sushi for 50 bucks?!

    (4)

  • Breanna C.

    Hands down my absolute fave sushi spot. For a while I shunned sushi. However, after having saburo's my taste for sushi has been rekindled. The portion sizes are huge but don't compromise in flavor. Everything I've had has always been so good, so to pick a favorite roll would be injustice. But, For those unfamiliar with sushi, have no fear. The menus here are so easy to order from, my bf & I just love the fact that there are descriptions for every roll. My only suggestion would be to go early! As the lines tend to go out the door & wrap around the building.

    (5)

  • Brandon J.

    waited too long..worst service here, Enjoyed food.

    (3)

  • Evelyn S.

    "We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To Anyone" A red and white sign with those words is front and center when you enter Saburo's. A strong desire for Sushi is what had me trying Saburo's. Service - 2 star The staff were polite, they reminded me of a wind up toy, you must initiate the interaction, then you will be entertained as you watch them wonder around until they need to be wound up again. Food - 2 stars I don't believe there is any reason to fear the food. It doesn't taste awful nor is it past it's expiration date, it's more as if it is just past the "best by" date. The spicy tuna hand roll was the best tasting item, however it looked like a roll that had not been cut up rather than a hand-roll. Price - 2 $13.75 and up for a special roll may seem like a good deal until you realize you are paying for a whole lot of rice and not much filling. I too have seen the lines outside but when we ventured in at 5:45 on a weekday tables were available. The only wait time was the time it took for someone to decide to come over to us and seat us. We stood and watched for about 4 or 5 minutes without any acknowledgment from any of the staff. I don't mind waiting for a table but I do appreciate some acknowledgment, even a smile would suffice. This is the place to go if you like: - being ignored - initiating any service you receive - huge portions of overly sweet sushi rice Just FYI - I am a Sushi snob so this review may not apply to you. As I write this review I wish they had exercised their "Right To Refuse Service To Anyone."

    (2)

  • Winnie F.

    Ahhhh, aside from their huge sushi and udon, nothing else makes me want to come here. Long wait, terrible service, kinda dirty and run-down decor and how crowded it is inside....gaah. I just wish they will fix all that (but they won't). Also, what is this you can only order once non-sense? And signs everywhere about only able to split the bill 2 ways...I get it, but don't post it everywhere in the restaurant! Jeez. Maybe next time I will just consider to-go option. Also remember that your hair and clothes will smell like fish, for sure.

    (2)

  • Keith K.

    Be aware...sushi rolls are freaking giant. Sooo good too. The sushi rice was great. Almost perfect. I wish the sashimi was cut a lot thinner, but it was good. The poke was spot on. Loved loved loved the age dashi tofu.

    (5)

  • Grace S.

    EAT here! Yummy food, sometimes you have to wait but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Joanne H.

    Horrible service. Not worth the wait and the lady waitress is rude to you if you want to ask her anything when you order. The quality of the food has also gone downhill and the bitter service doesn't make it any better.

    (1)

  • Michael R.

    Been coming to Saburos for almost 20 years now, since I was 14 years old. Amazing food. I find myself using Saburos as the measuring stick for good sushi restaurants. Unfortunately, have yet to find one that measures up. Just check out those pictures of their food! My personal favs: Toro, salmon belly, sabu roll, spicy tuna salad. All awesome! Yeah theres usually a long wait, but its worth it.

    (5)

  • Esh H.

    We waited about 30 minutes after signing up for a party of 3. For the number of people waiting outside, I was disappointed. The tempura udon was good, with great noodles and broth. The sashimi was fine but nothing spectacular (we got the Chef's choice). The assorted sushi and rolls we got were too big! I suppose maybe that's what people like, to be filled up for their money to the point their taste bids are buried under the senseless mountain of rice under the thick slab of fish...but I wouldn't recommend eating sushi this way. Go if you're hungry and want the amount of food for your buck. If you're looking for good, quality sushi, this is not the place. Furthermore, the wait time to receive our menus and then again for our orders to be taken were too long. It seemed understaffed. Our waiter hardly said anything to us and hurried us through to take our menus away. I am baffled as to why this place is so frequented by many. The only explanation I can come up with is that people who like to say they eat sushi but don't have the palate or the sense to discern good sushi from mountains of raw fish go here for a cheap but plentiful experience of the exotic.

    (2)

  • kelly c.

    It's true: the pieces and rolls are huge. The quality, however, leaves much to be desired. The fish just doesn't taste fresh. Somehow, when I lived in Sellwood and ate hear every Thursday night, the quality thing didn't get to me. Now that I have reduced my dosage, though, it's unlikely I will ever go back to being a Saburo's addict. Once you find good quality fish, you just can't go back to 3-star sushi even if it is HUGE. I can't dis on these folks too much, because the agedashi tofu is d-lish and they make some yummy vegetempura.

    (3)

  • Kelly M.

    Saburo's is my favorite sushi in town. Avocado maki is my favorite, and their enormous rolls are overflowing with avocado! For a couple bucks you can get twice as much sushi as at other places because the rolls are twice the size. Other yelpers have complained that the fish doesn't measure up in quality to the generous portions, but if you're vegetarian, it's the best sushi in town. One word of warning--EXPECT A WAIT. People generally start lining up before they even open!

    (5)

  • Anastasia K.

    Impressive, I won't belabor the point, enough people have already said that you get your money's worth with some damn good sushi. Worth every penny and the 1/2 hour wait. Delicious, well priced, no nonsense. Love it and will come back anytime I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Shareef N.

    The Sushi was delicious, the girls were fine. I will definitely come again, I recommend this place to anybody who doesn't mind a short wait for incredible food and service.

    (5)

  • Mankit Y.

    If it is not for the freshness and cheap price of the sushi, I would never line up for 30 mins before it opened and waited 60 mins for our food to come. The worst part, both couples seated on our sides, who lined up after us, got their food before us and got out way before we even smelt out food. And I'm now waiting impatiently for my food and writing this angry review.

    (2)

  • Richard R.

    Arrived at Saburo's @ 6:00 on a Thursday evening. Place was pretty packed, but we took 2 seats at the bar in front of Honorable Sushi Kitty (you'll know it when you see it). Some larger groups had to wait, but not too long (so quit your complaining inpatient ones). I started eating Sushi about 5 years ago when I lived in California. Hell, I'm from Ohio what do you want from me? I've had all types of sushi at all types of prices. Saburo's is probably my favorite sushi place ever. Sorry to any of Saburo's haters, but my palette can't tell any difference in the quality of the sushi nor can it tell which body of water my fish came from, or the genealogy of my fish. Also, (sorry again) but I'm not willing to pay over a Bunk Sandwich times 15 for my sushi anymore (been there, done that). I'll just be really really happy to sit in front of Honorable Sushi Kitty and eat my over-sized portions (with my hands if I must) of delicious sushi for a great price @ Saburo's. $40 (before tip) and I'm eating leftovers for lunch today - who's a happy boy? Me, me! By the way, Saburo's is closed from 5 -7 on Weekdays effective today 3/13/2009. Kidding of course, but I had to try to keep the crowds down!

    (5)

  • Kira J.

    Delicious, simple, sushi. Moderate price, unreal portions. Lots of hype, long lines, but still worth a 30-45 minute wait. Venue is not anything special but the value is great.

    (4)

  • Leo I.

    First time I went there was in 1996. Have returned here multiple times since then. It's one of the top-10 sushi places I've visiting across the country. Right up there with Toyoda in Seattle, Sushi Ota in San Diego, Sasabune in Honolulu (don't bother with the LA store), and Kuni's in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Rachelle S.

    Mr. Saburo-san I have written poetry about how generous and fresh your sushi is. I know this because my close friend is his sushi fish distributor. The pieces are huge and delectable. Mr. Saburo himself is always there preparing the sushi. He truly loves what he does and strives to please his customers. The sushi is YUM and reflects his dedication to his work. This place is so worth the wait! The mackerel, salmon, tuna, yellow tail, etc all fantastic! I always recommend this place and it is my fav sushi place!

    (5)

  • lena t.

    i loved this place... i thought the prices were so good and my favorite roll was the Hawaiian roil... mmmmm delish... I don't even think that Yoko's is as good... and I've been there many times and I don't like it as much as Saburo's Sushi House... And yes the wait is an hour but it's worth it

    (5)

  • Eric M.

    Very good rolls but too large. Couldn't enjoy all the flavors because you can't fit the whole roll in you mouth. Had to wait for 2 hours. Table was still dirty from last guests. Service was quick to get you in and out but not the most helpful or friendliest.

    (3)

  • Salaam And Maharlika D.

    Sushi sushi sushi! Oh, and other Japanese dishes as well. But if you're craving some oversized, good priced, definitely get-your-money's-worth type of sushi then here's your spot. First came here years ago back when I was in high school and now in my mid 20s still find myself returning to the small and usually always crowded restaurant about once every month. Yes, the wait time is usually insane ranging anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours (which I have done before), but early on I learned that the best times to go are usually 15-20 minutes before they open, later in the evening past 7:30/8pm, or during a week night when the weather is yucky outside. Other than that, can't really complain much about the service and food. Although not thee best in town when it comes to those two things, I can't go anywhere else when I have a craving for a spider roll, salmon belly, and tempura udon. Other great things on the menu according to my taste buds: agedashi tofu, spicy tuna salad, gyoza, and big o' roll. If you're in the sellwood area, go check it out! You know your mouth is salivating now after the mention of salmon belly, ;p

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Awesome GIANT sushis!! Next time I'll get here earlier. We were the first ones not to be seated when they started giving out tables (so unlucky). The line wraps around the building and there's no wonder why. We waited a decent amount, but when we were seated, they were really quick with their service. You get to write your orders down on a laminated menu, which speeds up the process. We for sure loaded up on food (too hungry after such a long wait). SO WORTH THE WAIT. This place isn't just hype. The portions here are huge and just so good! I would especially recommend the salmon belly, seared salmon belly, and unagi. Those were definitely my favorites. Otherwise, yellowtail, creamed scallops, and their rainbow roll were all really good too! I'd pass on the fried rolls next time and just load up on more nigiri though. Staff here was nice enough. Food came out quick. Avoid waiting forever and come early, at least 30 minutes before open. Also, value is really great for the price. Enjoy your sushi experience!!!

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Horrible horrible service!!! We came from Washington state, after 3 hours drive, an hour wait, and based on the mediocre review on yelp, we did not order enough for three people. Then we ask the waitress for another order, she refuses to take order and refuses to let us talk to her supervisor. She says they have "one order per table" policy on the door, but there is no such paper write anything about it. SO DISAPPOINTED!!! We end up have to go to McDonald after this crappy experience. Never go for the fame again. NEVER

    (1)

  • Ahran J.

    yeah, the service is not good due to extreme number of customers. but i only rate on food. I normally do not eat ikura, but this place had the freshest ikura i have ever tasted (salmon roe). I usually don't eat it because of the fishy taste, but it had none. salmon belly was awesome, hamachi was good, only thing I would eat elsewhere was ika, the squid. the rolls were amazing as well. I took off one star since they only sell the sushi by two, so it was difficult getting variety.

    (4)

  • Bachtuyet L.

    Mmmm Hawaiian rolls! One of my favorite sushi rolls of all time. It has spicy tuna mix, smelt roe, green onion, sesame seeds & mayo sauce rolled in sliced cucumber. I really enjoy the cucumber wrapping. It makes the roll tastes more refreshing and adds a nice crunchy contrast to the mushy fish and smelt roe. I get this every time and am never disappointed. Rolls here are huge! Nigiris are huge! You definitely get your money's worth. It's nice that they don't increase the rice to fish ratio either. Certain places will but a bigger blob of rice compared to the fish. Not cool. For the quality of the fish and the price you pay at Saburo's, can't complain. Ok, you can because the wait is fucking horrendous. Having sushi here takes planning and dedication lol. My bf went early to wait in line first before doors even opened. BEFORE DOORS EVEN OPENED. It was a Saturday afternoon and they open at 4:30. He got there at 3:45 and there was already a pretty good sized line; once they started seating, we ended up being one of the last parties seated. Crazies I tell ya! Lastly, it was a pretty busy evening and they limited us to only one order. So make sure you know what you want when they come back because it's your only chance! Busy restaurant also correlates with slower service. Not for everyone though. The two parties on either side of us received their order and pretty much finished eating before we even received our sushi. One of the gentlemen we sat near asked what we ordered and if it required the chef to go catch because he had noticed it was taking so long haha

    (4)

  • Soria C.

    I LOVE this place. My boyfriend and i go here often and they may not always have the best service, but their sushi is AMAZING. Good size pieces and size of orders. They are quick to get food out. Honestly, they are only open for a few hours a day, but totally worth the wait. (They're less busy closer to 830-9pm because they close at 930). Highly Reccomend.

    (4)

  • James S.

    I enjoyed the food and was here years ago but hadnt done yelp and kids just started me on this and said for all the places I go I should. It was better the first time as the portions were large and some couldnt even get in your mouth so you miss out on the actual flavor of some items as you want each bite to have it all. But some were decent, prices were ok to cheap, but the first time I figured I was more excited this time was all about sitting there for 45 min and getting a glass of water and getting ignored. Not just slow but there was no customer service. I actually had to go up and ask who are server was. She finally arrived and said had to hurry to order as they will be closing soon. What a deal. Find anywhere else unless you just need it now, if you can wait it would be worth the wait to go somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Phuong N.

    Thing to know about this place is that you cannot order more than once on a busy day. It's a rule. So you have to order everything you want all at once. And tip is automatically included into the bill, so I assume that's why the service is not so great because we HAVE TO pay for their service no matter what. The rolls are huge, so you can get full pretty quickly. My favorite is spicy tuna roll! I recommend it! The parking space is small. I'm probably lucky, because the two times I've been there, there was always one spot left. The place is super crowded, so claustrophobic people might want to reconsider.

    (4)

  • Margo S.

    This is one of those places I wish I could rate things individually opposed to rating it all as a whole. So I figured I would Lay it out that way ;) The sushi: 5/5 stars!!!!! Holy Moley! Best sushi I have ever had. The portions are untraditionally large and quite amazing!! I'm always stuffed by the time I leave here in a very good way!! I am a repeat customer, my husband and I come frequently for date night. We love sushi and so far we have met nothing that compares to this deliciousness! I don't recommend taking a first date here unless you feel very comfortable in getting down and dirty while you eat (let's just say the process can be messy due to the size of the rolls when you eat them!). The wait time can be lengthy due to the popularity of the place but it's worth it! Here's a tip though. WINE BAR NEXT DOOR!!! Go there and have a drink while you're waiting! It's a great way to pass the time. While you're sipping on your Vino send someone out of your party to check the list to see if it's close to your time to be called :) Time flies when you try this method plus the wine bar itself is kinda awesome! Service:1/5 stars Don't come here if amazing service is pretty high on your list. They just want to get you in and then out to help with table turnover. They have a continuous line outside so they are about quickness and efficiency, not patience and taking their time with you. If you're with a party, even a small one, make sure to check if they added gratuity. They'll add this without saying anything so we've almost double tipped multiple times. Atmosphere: 2/5 This place has that packed liked sardine feel. So if you have space issues then you either need to get over it or go somewhere else. The decor is average nothing spectacular. Overall rating is 4/5 for me because food trumps all and I could care less about the other if I'm going for epic sushi rolls with a side of saki !!

    (4)

  • Jeff W.

    I've been coming here for 10 years and have never been disappointed. The fish is fresh, the portions are massive and the prices are incredible, all things considered. 50+ trips and I can't wait for the next 50.

    (5)

  • Shay P.

    THE BEST. The biggest, freshest rolls I have ever seen/had. You're trippin if you think otherwise.

    (5)

  • Selena N.

    I have walked around Sellwood before but didn't know that this was there because it is on the other side of Milwaukie on Bybee. I had been recommended this place by many friends and finally tried it last night. It is an odd place. The way you order is a little odd. One menu for all to mark on. At least give a few so people can read to see what they would like to mark. Just a thought. The sushi though was outstanding!! A lot of food! The veggie and shrimp tempura was awesome! The onions/carrots tempura was especially yummy! We all left very full and happy! I'll be going back!

    (4)

  • Jena C.

    Love this place. My husband and I go here at least once a month we travel 45 minutes both ways for their sushi. Only thing that sucks is the restaurant layout is aweful and outdated and un appetizing. The tepid tap water and sticky tables with poor customer service leave more than a little to be desired but the food is what you come for and it's amazing. If the resturant was more welcoming it'd be a must visit to anyone visiting portland. But till then it's the best local sushi for the price by far.

    (4)

  • Tim C.

    Yes, this place has huge pieces of fish for their nigiri, and it's very well priced. Yes, you will have to wait to be seated. And yes, the service is terrible. I'll start with the wait: We had a party of 3 and we came at 5pm on a Sunday. Our wait time was around 30 minutes to be seated. Not too bad. I've heard stories that it took people up to 1.5-2 hours. I guess it depends on when you go. The food: The nigiri we ordered was huge, of good quality, and at a good price. I highly recommend the seared salmon - that one was my favorite. I also enjoyed the Unagi (eel) and Crab (not imitation, also very tasty). We ordered the tuna, salmon, salmon belly, and yellowtail. They were all good, but seared salmon is the way to go! I tried their Hamachi Kama (Yellowtail Collar), which was super fatty but very tasty. The food was definitely 5 stars. I'm not going to diminish or deny that. However... The service: From the moment I was seated (at the sushi bar), I felt we were rushed to get out as quickly as possible. The other two people in my party decided to walk around the block while I waited, and were about a minute away when I got seated. Of course, I called them to tell them to hurry back, but when I was seated, the waitress told me everyone needs to be here so that we can order quickly. I can understand that, and the two others came within a few minutes - no big deal. After we had ordered, the waitress asked us, "Are you sure that's going to be enough food for you?" We told her yes. She asked us the same question again, and said that we can't order more food after we order once, because of time constraints. I'm not sure I've ever heard a restaurant tell me that before, but ok. A bit strange, but ok. We weren't even halfway done with eating our food, and our check was already given to us. Ok, I get it - you're in a rush. Closer to the end of our meal, when there was still sushi on our plates, we still had chopsticks in our hands, bent over our food obviously STILL EATING, the waitress asked us if she should pack the rest of the sushi for us to go. What is that? Seriously - WHO DOES THAT? I mean, what's the point of having customers if you're just going to try and get them out as quickly as possible? Just to seat other customers, who you'll be trying to get out as quickly as possible? I don't know, but I'm not sure that's the best way to run a business. But what do I know? I just like eating sushi. Unfortunately, I may not be eating it back here again, because I'm not sure my business is valued. Hey, but it works for some people, obviously - they have long wait lines for a reason, right? So if you're ok with waiting a while to be seated, only to be rushed out as quickly as possible while you're eating, all for the sake of huge pieces of good-tasting sushi, then Saburo's is the place for you. I'm still one for valuing decent quality customer service. 5 stars for food, but 1 star for service - it evens out to 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Vance V.

    Closed until September 1st FYI! Yelp won't let me post unless my "review" is longer. Don't go out until they reopen.

    (5)

  • Sunny L.

    They used to have much bigger sushi. However, they had decrease their portions. Sushi is still 1.5x bigger but the price is 1.5x more expensive. The servers are arrogent and the service is shit. Factoring that, it's not really a good deal.

    (2)

  • Kristen K.

    Holy moly. Saburos serves up the biggest nigiri sushi I've ever seen! And you can get some for pretty cheap if you're willing to wait in line for rediculous amounts of time at peak hours (apparently many people are ok with doing so). Me? Not so much. Well, since we were on a family vacation, my fate was pre-determined by the rest of them. They planned ahead, went down nearly an hour before they even opened, and we were the VERY FIRST ones in line. Yes, the VERY FIRST *pat on back* While on vacation maybe one can get by with crazy actions like this. In normal life.....not so much. If I were a local I highly doubt I'd ever wait in line for over an hour, even if it was for monstrous sushi. The service was ok. Once the flood gates opened the restaurant was immediately packed for the first seating. The sushi was pretty good quality (I was pleasantly surprised), I liked their agedashi tofu, and they had quite a selection of various handroll creations as well. My favorite one ended up being the seared salmon nigiri. For the price....it was a damn good deal. In Hawaii, 2 diminuative pieces of toro nigiri will run you about $20. At Saburos, 2 pieces of toro nigiri was comparative in size to about 8 pieces of "Hawaii toro nigiri". Ya, it is all relative. You would sacrifice quality in this case. But whatever. The toro was alright and it was $5 an order. You can't go wrong with that.

    (4)

  • Vy D.

    HUGE portions, SUPER FRESH sushi, if you don't mind the WAIT or getting there early at open time. I've been here many times. I mean the hawaii rolls are probably smaller than what they use to be in 2007, but hey, it's still my favorite rolls in this place. The freshness have never changed. the sushi was, is and probably will always be as fresh as the first time I've ventured in this cramped little restaurant. Note: to people who think the service is crappy. It isn't they are just too busy. Maybe I'm just use to asian services. Order, food, pay, leave, very little interaction with the waiter/waitress.

    (5)

  • David W.

    I can see the draw to Saburos - HUGE rolls... However, be aware they do not accommodate Gluten Free diners. I tried looking before we went, but couldn't find anything, so I am letting all my GF friends know that Saburos isn't going to be a good fit. Also, for us, the rolls were too big.. I felt like I was gnawing on huge bites of rice and seaweed. We're going to stick to Bamboo..

    (2)

  • Aaron W.

    There is a line to get into Saburo's that starts about 45 minutes before the place opens. Basically, after realizing I didn't mind or care about waiting, I had to give this place the fifth star. It had been a while since I last set foot in this place, but the food (especially the large portions) and atmosphere remain the same. To my knowledge, you'll only have one chance to order food so that the people on the wait list can get their seat faster. SPICY TUNA ROLL: Five-piece roll that has always been my default option. Nice minced tuna, very fresh. Obviously not very spicy, but it is noticeable. SHOGUN ROLL: Eight pieces, contains delicious eel and avocado. Much heartier and very flavorful. TORO NIGIRI: Two pieces, thick pieces of toro. Again, fresh and very good. PHILLY ROLL: My friend and I got seven pieces. Deep fried roll with salmon and cream cheese. Again, a gluttonous, heavy roll. Dipping sauce was great. The total came to about $30 to $35, which, for the large portions, is very reasonable. While my panda stomach generally guides me elsewhere (because I must try new places for panda science), I hopefully actually remember to return here more often.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey O.

    I have been a loyal customer of Saburo's for over 15 years. I have a whole routine. Put in my name. Go get a pint. Wait... then gorge myself on sushi. Tonight, I was really looking forward to the same. Our name was called for a party of two. We were told we would need to share a table. No big deal. We were escorted to the back room where the hostess told a party of six to scoot over because they were at a table for 8. They mentioned that they were there for a birthday party and were obviously uncomfortable for us to crowd in. They said, "we are here for a birthday party and it is a littIe awkward for them to sit with us". We said we would just wait for another table. The hostess told us that if we didn't take the table she would seat every group of whatever size before us. She was punishing us for not crowding in on someone else's birthday party. Folks at other tables were supportive and said they hoped everyone else would refuse to push in on them. I can say that I will not be subjecting myself to that kind of interaction again. I know the rules at Saburo's. I have followed them forever. I will not be returning until they fire that hostess.

    (1)

  • Joe S.

    Overheard and saw it happen. Group of six paid their bill and the mandatory 18% tip. Customer asked a server for more tea. The manager told the server NOT give them more tea because they would NOT give more tip. Rather odd, but that's the norm at this place. All servers are nice except for the manager.

    (1)

  • Vivian T.

    Woot. I loved this place. My girlfriend and I saw a friend post a picture on FB of her experience and just had to try it out while we were in Portland. The portions were huge and the price paid was very fair. We definitely ordered with our eyes since our total order came out to about 40 nigiri rolls + 2 hand rolls. It was a bad idea...and now I'm going to be eating sushi for breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day. Pictures for proof below! Only thing I wouldn't get is the Toro Sake (Fatty Salmon). It wasn't that great compared to the regular Sake so I would just stick with that next time. Also, the wait is ridiculously long. Be prepared to wait for at least 2 hrs on any given night.

    (5)

  • Lars F.

    Business was sold in 2014. New owners abusing past reputation. Now awful service. Poor presentation. Just don't even give it a chance. Saburo has gone downhill. But you notice the long line of people waiting! Must be a good sign? My response: lemmings. So many Japanese eat here, so it's got to be good and authentic. Well a LOT of Americans eat at McD's... that in itself does not indicate quality of food. Did I mention service sucks? Japanese pride themselves on presentation of food. Even if it's only ramen. Saburo's basically throws food on the melamine plate. Vegetable tempura... Should rename to their version of a blooming fried onion. Spice tuna roll looked like someone took a s**t on some rice. Don't be pulled by past reviews of years gone by. Do not think of Saburo for quality. Liken to a Denny's gone very, very bad. Darn, I'd take Denny's.

    (1)

  • Timothy M.

    While you may have to wait 30-60 minutes to get in, it's well worth the wait. Average price for super sized and super fresh sushi. The interior is small and a bit cramped, but seriously it doesn't matter. Once your order arrives you will be in sushi heaven =)

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    Everyone's reviews regarding the HORRIBLE customer service is true. This place isn't as good as people make it out to be, especially after the customer service. First off, you WILL recognize the infamous lady with short hair and glasses when you come here--we did not even have her as a waitress and literally after FIVE MINUTES of receiving our food she asked us, "Will you be finishing your food or will you be needing a box?" My jaw literally dropped, how RUDE! And she was not even our server! I left ZERO tip, my guess is they probably automatically include gratituity because most give none or little. I'd also like to add that I think it is "interesting" and a bit disappointing how most say the food is worth the bad customer service.. Being rushed out does NOT mean the place is good, I would rather wait an hour for quality food and good customer service than go to a place like this with poor customer service AND a long wait. Lastly, the place smells a little funny and the bathroom just feels dirty. Not coming back! Ever.

    (1)

  • Ryan H.

    Long wait. Cool neighborhood. Close bars to kill time. Put your phone number on the list, they'll call you (sometimes). The sushi here isn't the greatest quality. It's huge. The awe factor will keep you hooked for the first 4-5 visits, when you bring new friends and have to show them. After a while the novelty wears thin. You realize it's a long wait. Cool neighborhood. And the bars are actually more fun to hang out at than Saburo's. Best things to order? Salmon Belly & River Eel & Miso Soup. Forget the rolls - it's all just sugary rice.

    (3)

  • Kristina B.

    Super fresh and yummy food. Zero ambiance. If you're craving sushi and you're really hungry, their portions are abnormally large. GO! If this is a date and you want atmosphere where you can enjoy your company- skip it and go another time. It's great for what it is! Always expect to wait. One tip: Put your name on the list and go across the street to Kay's Bar for a cocktail while you wait.

    (3)

  • LeAnn E.

    I'm sorry to those die hard fans of this place but, I am not at all a supporter at all. I've been there numerous times and each time I walk out disappointed. For one...the pieces are huge. You can't get all the flavors of the sushi in one bite, 2 or 3 if your lucky. Two...the place is soooo small. Three.....waiting for over an hour for crappy sushi, isn't a lot of fun. Prices are ok...quality is not so ok. Sorry...I'm out on this one.

    (2)

  • Michael P.

    Okay, so I know the ratings for Saburo's is all over the place, but I'm giving my ratings with the preface that I'm not a sushi expert (I can't roll it on my own, my sushi palette is quite limited, nor have I even been to Japan) and I went about 30 minutes before it closed on a Sunday night. The rolls are indeed very large and for the price make it a really great deal for someone who enjoys eating a lot of sushi. I've had some really cheap sushi before, but the quality of the sushi here was a lot better than I anticipated given the price. Based on the combination of price and quantity, I think this is a great place. It probably isn't ideal for the savvy sushi enthusiast or impatient restaurant goer.

    (4)

  • Niki J.

    let me just say.. this sushi was amazing!!! yes we waited 1 1/2 hours on a wednesday night for it, but totally worth it. if your going to complain about the wait then your probably not from portland, because we all know all the best places in town are small on the inside and require you to wait. thats just part of the portland culture. anyway... it was delicious, the fish was soft and buttery, the portions were huge, the price was definitely right. the food came out pretty quickly and although the staff wasn't over the top friendly they brought the food in a timely manner and cleared dishes quickly, so what's to complain about? no, some of this sushi is not "authentic" but it is nothing less than amazing! i especially loved the salmon nigiri and the unagi (eel) nigiri. the fried rolls were yummy too. Heres a suggestion to people while they wait - check out corkscrew, the wine bar next door while you wait. we had a couple drinks there and time passed quickly! definitely the best sushi i have had in my 7 years here in portland.

    (5)

  • Devon D.

    For some things in life, you simply have to pay for quality. Saburo's has the cheapest and largest -- yet lowest quality -- fish I have ever been unfortunate enough to experience. My heart filled with terror as we walked in, spying rolls from which a single piece was the size of my own fist. Fat slabs of tasteless maguro mingled among incredibly slimy, overly sweet and tough ebi on my "chef's choice" sashimi plate. The rice is sweet. The miso is sweet. The ginger is sweet. The sauces are sweet. The sake is sweet. The IMITATION crab is sweet... I left having had a good time, but ultimately down on life. Sushi is one thing that should always make me happy, and that I will always crave, yet Saburo's has planted the seed of sushi fear into my life. I am ashamed of what Anthony Bourdain would say.

    (1)

  • Duane C.

    Saburo's has been recommended to us repeatedly. People rave about the portions and decent prices. So we finally made it out there and weren't surprised by the wait which people warned us about so we walked down the street to a nearby pizza joint for a beer. Upon entering Saburo's you realize it's very tight quarters in there. They have the sushi bar and main dining area at the front and a second dining area in the back just past the kitchen. The place looks like a dive which is usually promising for an eatery, but we soon discovered otherwise. Yes the sushi is "huge" compared to what I'm used to but I always thought the idea behind sushi was that it was conveniently sized to be enjoyed in a single bite. I'm a big tako(octopus) fan so naturally I ordered the tako nigiri. What I got was several slabs of octopus dwarfing the rice beneath it. The tako was so big and thick that I couldn't bite through it and had to use two hands to help. Cooked octopus is already chewy to begin with so when you slice it as thick as they do...you almost need to sharpen your teeth to chew it. Not a pleasant experience. We also ordered a spider roll(fried soft shell crab in a maki roll), again HUGE. The roll had a very fishy taste to it and was rather salty. I know, "fishy taste you say...but it's sushi isn't it supposed to?" No it isn't. Good sushi you can't really taste the fish...it more or less melts in your mouth, but in the case of the spider roll I think they may have either snuck in some bonito flakes or fried the crab in oil that was already used to fry a fish. Either way...not what I typically look for in a good spider roll. In closing, don't take my word for it. Many people like this place, but if you're a sushi buff and appreciate a really great bite of sushi don't waste your time on the wait and go elsewhere. For the same amount of money we spent Mio Sushi in my opinion tastes much better. If you do go to Saburo's get there at least a half hour before they open like other people suggest...the wait really can be long.

    (1)

  • Kang T.

    Fresh fish, great service, and unbelievably large portions at pretty reasonable prices. That deserves 5 stars!!

    (5)

  • Sam B.

    If you have never had real sushi, which means anywhere else, you may like theirs. But there is no way Japanese own this place. The seaweed salad and agedashi tofu are pretty good, but the sushi/ roll options are too huge to be enjoyed by someone accustomed to the real deal. Can't eat in one mouthful, or even three. If you're just looking for an affordable place to fill your gut and a good vibe in Sellwood, though, you may want to drop in just to see unagi the size of your forearm. FOREARM, I said.

    (2)

  • Laura B.

    I'm a regular here and there are so many reasons why. Fast service, HUGE portions, casual and clean atmosphere, great prices, and friendly and attentive staff. I've checked out other places, and they leave me pining for Saburo's.

    (5)

  • Kay G.

    I've read all the reviews and everyone mentions the huge rolls. Yes, they are huge, and they are quite good, but they are not what I come to Saburos for. I come there for, well, the SUSHI. The *unagi nigiri* is the best I've had in the Pacific Northwest. And I don't just mean for the price to size ratio. I mean its fabulous. You get an entire fillet of eel, 4" to 6" long, that is marinated perfectly and served still-warm on a regretably huge finger of rice. I use my sticks to break off the ends that hang over the rice, eat them, and then use my hands to eat it. I've treid all sorts of ways to eat the sushi with sticks and the portions are too large to get in one bite, so... I use my hands. Two of the unagi nigiri and half a roll and I am usually filled to bursting. The salmon and yellowtail are usually very, very fresh and the cuts are large. The creamy scallops are superb as well. Come early, or come late--if not, you will wait. The hours are 4:30 to 9:30.

    (5)

  • Mike D.

    Food is okay, don't know what the hype is. On top of that, that lady needs a serious crash course in professionalism. She was rude, obnoxious, and most likely a family member or close friend. I see multiple complaints about her but, she's still working there. You guys are horrible.

    (1)

  • Heather J.

    Nope. No.No.No. I stood in line here for and hour an a half. (why didn't I just have a drink at the wine bar next door? because of the person I was with. don't ask. but if you do go after reading my review, that's what you should do.). Saturday, at 4:30, and I stood in line for an hour an a half. And for what? the LARGEST sushi rolls I have ever seen in my life. One piece of a roll was about three large bites. One nigiri? The size of a toddler's arm. Ok, so now I understand why people go. If you want cheap sushi in almost vulgar portions, this is your place. Otherwise, you will have stood in line for an hour, for sushi that is heavy on the rice, heavy on the mayo, and with fish of acceptable but definitely not stand out quality. But, hey, maybe that's your thing.

    (1)

  • Jian Y.

    This was one of my best restaurant. However, today is so disappointed. Food price rise up through yeah is understandable but price rise up food quality and quantity are drop so much is not acceptable . This is not a right way how you run your business, you are cheating on your customers! Only reason will bring me back to this restaurant is you guys need to go back to how is was .before that I will tell all my friend what I feel here today.

    (1)

  • Christina N.

    The food here is great. Big rolls. However, I wish they could cut it to smaller sizes so you can actually put it into your mouth. The service is mediocre sometimes bad, never great though. Be warned! The bill always comes out with an automatic 15% tip already so don't double tip. That's how they scam you, it wouldn't be a problem if it was actually good service but it's not so it's very ridiculous and for them to not mention the automatic gratuity for you to leave more is illegal there should be prior acknowledgement. I have been scammed like 6 times prior to today. Very sad.

    (3)

  • Kayte J.

    Clearly the recent reviewers don't understand the nature of this beast. If you come with a large group you're gonna have a bad time. You waited for an hour and you probably have a smart phone, why not look up the menu and know what you want the moment you sit down? They're rushing you because they have ~400 covers a night and need to flip tables as fast as they can. They're rushing you because they don't want their customers waiting 3 hours for their table. Don't be the jerk that sits around and chats for 30 minutes after you've finished eating, you're the reason why the wait is 1.5-3 hours. I always have great service here because I never complain about the wait, order when they bring me water and tip them appropriately for their hard work. /rant

    (5)

  • Bobby C.

    Got in quick but it took a while to get my food. Not worth the wait to me but not bad sushi either.

    (3)

  • Marisa K.

    saburos is a great place if you want huuge okay grade sushi for a good price. quality is just okay, you obviously get what you pay for, can't expect high quality sushi for a low price. which is why I would suggest saburos if you're in the mood for a roll, I personally wouldn't come here if I was craving nigiri or sashimi where quality and cut of the fish is extremely important. definitely would recommend for people that are knewer to eating sushi and aren't looking to spend a lot. one thing I really did not like though was that 15% tip is already included into our bill yet our server assumed we didn't want change, as other reviewers have stated there isn't any real customer service at this place, it was a little annoying that they would assume we wanted to tip them $10 on top of the 15% for how little they did.

    (2)

  • Kevin P.

    We have been coming here for years. But as the previous reviews said, the service there is HORRIBLE. And it is very correct how RUDE the Asian lady with glasses is who calls you to your table is. THEY NEED TO GET RID OF HER. We love the food and don't even mind the wait, making an evening out of it. But we CANNOT tolerate the service anymore. We will not be coming back until this woman is gone!!! We were there last night. The "lady" called the name for a party of six. He was asked if all in the party was there. He said not yet. She said, rudely, "you just lost your table" and called the next name. She didn't even say "let me now when your party is all here and I will seat you". I gave it 2 stars only because of the service. I wish yelp had ratings for both food and service. My rating would be 5 stars for food and 1 star for service.

    (2)

  • Leah K.

    Best place for sushi near Portland. Fish is fresh and rolls are ginormous. Really long wait times during the weekend with average service. I still highly recommend Saburo's though!

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    What has happen to their great customer service? We had the typical 1 1/2 wait and we go right next store at a wine bar to wait in comfort. My wife does the every 15 mins check as we support the place next store. Our turn came up and my wife was there ready and the girl working the list asks my wife where is your husband? My wife said "just next door finishing his beer, well the girl said "unless your husband is right here in front of me you will need to wait. REALLY? I spent 35 next door and 100 here, if you give me a minute to pay my bill I'm there very quickly and ready to order in less than 3 mins Since the two places are right next to each other one. would think the two places would work together, but I guess not. Still good food but work with your neighbor!

    (3)

  • Eddie T.

    I had been to this place with my family many times for the last 16 months ever since we moved to Tigard, because of their big and tasty sushi rolls. The fish is fresh and the portion is quite good. Our 11-year old son loves sushi and this is a better place than most of the others around the Beaverton and Tigard areas. We didn't mind the drive and the wait, even though it might take more than an hour to get a table for 4. That said, we are not going back there any time soon due to the horrible services. On reading one of the reviewers' comments, I would agree that the bad interactions with them is not worth it. For example, one hostess (a chubby lady in the late 30s or early 40s) appeared to be very bossy and always looked p*ssed off when we requested extra napkins or a pair of new chopsticks, or even when we ordered some additional sushi!! One time, we asked for some ice cubes for our water and she yelled "we don't give ice for water. Ice is only for soda drinks!" Later on, we approached another waitress and she was able to give us some ice cubes! I understand that this is a typical Asian substandard restaurant and I didn't expect good service, but what happened there was more of an insult to me and my family, especially in front of our young kids... hey, we paid didn't we?

    (1)

  • Teresa T.

    Decided to try out Saburo's for dinner on a Thursday night and waited around 30 minutes for our seats at the bar. While waiting we weren't sure who to ask for a menu so we weren't able to look over it/put our orders in but luckily we made quick decisions and got our orders in. I also read the reviews beforehand so luckily knew you have one shot to put your order in. For 2 we got the rainbow roll, spider roll, salmon skin roll, and 2 orders of salmon nigiri. The salmon skin roll was alright..we appreciated the thick chunks of salmon still attached to the skin but suspect that the skin wasn't freshly fried since it was soggy upon arrival. I also noticed pre-made sear tuna chilling in the fridge case so this makes sense since these chefs have to make the rolls pretty fast. The spider roll was good and crispy though. A solid choice. The rainbow roll was seriously the size of 2 normal sized rolls you would get at other restaurants and had impressive filets of fish on the top. The inside was decent also. The salmon nigiri pieces were impressively generous but I found the flavor and texture meh. Overall I found the rolls under-seasoned and a bit bland for my taste. However, you are getting a bang for your buck.

    (3)

  • Amber K.

    Regardless of wait times, I went to this sushi restaurant on raving reviews of my co-workers. Upon ordering the rainbow roll and the spicy tuna roll, I was shocked at the size. Just because the portions are huge doesn't make them good! Does anyone reviewing the food actually taste the food they are consuming? The rainbow roll was a sloppy massive mess that was ridiculous. The spicy tuna was flavored with a hot sauce that so awful and did not resemble anything a true spicy tuna roll should. The servers did not even notice that I didn't eat majority of my ordered food. They are so busy on getting people in and out. I just don't understand the huge popularity of this restaurant. It was such a let down.

    (1)

  • Stephanie S.

    3.5-4*. Standing in line for giant pieces of sushi and witnessing a neighbouring table sit down only to get $400 worth in take-out was an experience in itself! According to my local cuz, there is constantly a line for Saburo's, a sushi joint that serves 3-bite pieces of nigiri. The line, mainly consisting of tourists, forms even before they open at 5pm for dinner! CRAY. Traditionalists will probably turn their nose up at this joint as the art of sushi is sort of bastardised due to the sheer SIZE/quantity. However, if you're into "bang for buck" mentality, you won't hesitate to wait for a seat. Apparently, the prices at Saburo's are the same as other sushi places, but with HUGE pieces, so hence their popularity! For such a busy place, service was surprisingly polite and efficient. Tip: NO RESERVATIONS and I don't blame them either! It's line-up, first come, first served!

    (3)

  • Bich L.

    The food is great, but service is rather rude. We have been going here for years, but the recent new waitresses have no respect for the customers. We have always tried to eat fast, so others can get in faster, but being rudely asked to leave when we are just halfway done, is not ok. We will never come back, again.

    (1)

  • Suie C.

    We waited in line for 45 min...and were the second to last table to be seated in the first round of seating when the restaurant opened. It's easy to order and the waiters are quick. Yes the sushi pieces are quite large so you are getting your bang for the buck. But...other than the size of the sushi, the flavor wasn't anything too special that I'd be willing to wait in line for such a long time again. Nothing bad, but nothing stood out much either. I imagine I'd probably come here if there was less of a wait (15-20min), perhaps coming towards closing would be a better option. But I don't think I'd wait for nearly an hour again. Even if the sushi is huge.

    (3)

  • Patti F.

    Value = great. This is GIANT sushi, not teeny sushi and I didn't know there was a difference before I came to try Saburo's. Luckily my friends warned me, "it's huge, like, REALLY HUGE" and I'm thinking how huge is huge? Think Chipotle burrito huge. I enjoyed my roll, I got the spicy tuna/crab roll which was quickly deep fried - very tasty, and that's all I had. Normally I can eat two rolls myself, and I could barely finish this one. Holy moly it's HUGE. Didn't love the hour and a half wait just to get crammed into a teeny place, but clearly people think it's worth it. I'll try it again for sure, just based on the value - and they also carry my favorite Nigiri sake (Momokawa Pearl and Sayuri). Service was good, they clearly want you in and out - and with such a small place I get it. No complaints, but waiting kind of sucked.

    (3)

  • Cass T.

    My significant person and I moved here from L.A. and we were very excited to find Saburo's: it actually seems somewhat authentic and it's well priced. We went to Saburo's once and then enthusiastic about our find, went back a week later. The first time was great, with ok service, but when we went back a second time we waited an hour to get in, on a Sunday - and this is getting there at 5:20 pm. After we were seated, we ordered edamame, some sushi, and two big bottles of sake. Then, we asked to see a menu to order more sushi. The server, who was not polite to begin with, said, "We usually don't let people order seconds." We left and now will find a new favorite sushi place; my significant man is a bartender, and tipped less than 20% for the first time. I don't know why they would not allow "seconds," especaially after we, the customers, already spent a large amount; you would think they'd get it will bring them more money and return customers. We'd rather find a place where you pay more and get much better service.

    (2)

  • Komo B.

    If you like the mcdonalds of sushi then you should eat here. " I'll supersize my california roll"

    (2)

  • Kevin C.

    Went to Saburo's on a tip from a friend b/c my wife loves sushi (me not so much). This place was great. The staff was friendly, the prices reasonable, and I actually enjoyed the sushi. My wife thinks its the best sushi she's ever had. Just be aware you will wait in line. We arrived 30 minutes before they opened and were halfway around the building.

    (4)

  • Laura G.

    gross. Americanized sushi, i live near by and i can never understand why there is always such a line outside this place. sure i guess it has a novelty appeal but it is seriously lacking in taste, so not my cup of tea.

    (1)

  • Stevio x.

    if huge slabs of mediocre sushi are your thing, then this is the place for you. If you like more traditional, better shushi, then go to Murata -- the best sushi in Portland bar none. And if you think the wait is worth it...you need a life. :)

    (1)

  • K A.

    One of the best sushi spots in Portland, in my opinion! You have to get there before they open if you don't want to wait forever, but even if you have to wait it's totally worth it. The portions are huge and the ingredients always taste fresh.

    (5)

  • Tabitha R.

    So ... we when we moved here we KNEW that it wasn't going to be easy to find good sushi. We accepted it ... sadly. So when we found out that THE BEST SUSHI in Portland was right down the street from our place ... we were super excited. So I read the reviews ... and I knew what I was in for. A LONG wait ... but that it was worth it. That we shouldn't over order because the portions were HUGE. Well ... they weren't kidding!! BUT what they failed to tell us wat that the actual rolls were huge ... not just the portions. So we ordered the Spider Roll, Spicy Tuna and another one I've forgoten the name of -- with lots of yummy salmon and cucumbers. And I must say ... the fish was pretty darn good. SO -- why two stars? WELL ... the problem is that each roll takes six bites to eat. You can't enjoy the roll ... as a roll ... you have to accept that you're having a salad of sorts and eat each piece individually. Now you may think I'm exaggerating ... but I'm not. The rolls were as big as the palm of my hand -- NO JOKE!! Hubby tried to "cut" a roll in half to make it more manageable and broke his chopsticks. One the upside the service was great. Once you're in -- the food comes quickly and the service is prompt. And you really can't beat the prices. But my recommendation is to stick with ordering the sashimi (which is also huge) so you can actual take a bite and enjoy it. Anywho ... the sushi was good. But I'd say -- not worth the wait and the fact that you can't enjoy a roll as an entire roll ... well 'nuf said. Perhaps they'll get the message and make the rolls tighter, the fish pieces smaller ... and just cut them into more pieces than 5. I can dream.

    (2)

  • Korin W.

    I hadn't been here for a while and decided to go on my bday. I knew there would be await so we did they usual, put your name on the list and head to Kay's for a beer thing... Well 45 minutes passed and our table still wasn't ready so we headed directly next door to Corkscrew (omg, i heart this place!). Finally our seats at the bar were ready and we were a go. So first thing I notice is its the same amazing atmosphere I know and love in that place. However, I start looking around and, seriously no joke, I counted 5 people wearing sparkly Ed Hardy hats (weird!). Then my eyes met the 'salmon' and 'white fish' in the 'showcase' in front of my seat at the bar and I knew we'd be in for a rough dinner... they were giant, brashly cut slabs (hunks even) of fish... blegh! Anyway, the rolls were WAY bigger than I remembered, and so huge that it was disgusting to try and eat them. We ended up picking out the fish from the middle of the rolls and taking bites of our sashimi. All in all we ended up drunk because neither of us could really eat what was presented to us as our 'order' ... I love the atmosphere here, I really truly do...if they could just get some decent chefs in here maybe it would turn around

    (2)

  • Sue R.

    I would say that the sushi here was not worth a 40 minute wait in the cold. I can certainly understand why people love it, as the sushi is king size. But it definitely loses flavor with the size. I think the true test of sushi is finding out how tender the tako is and the tako served here cannot possibly be bitten into. I don't think a knife and fork could have cut through what was on the plate. I admit, I am from Hawaii and am known to be a tough critic. So if you are looking for value, this is your place, but if you are looking for quality, mouth watering sushi, don't wait in line.

    (2)

  • Kathy W.

    Recommended by a local Portlandian(?) to check out during my visit to PDX. Long wait on a Sunday night around 7:30p (at least 45-60 min) for HUGE SLICES of sushi. HAWAII ROLL - spicy tuna roll wrapped in seaweed with an outer cucumber layer - good amount of tuna that was actually somewhat spicy - the exterior cucumber layer gave it a nice cooling crunch - decent SPIDER ROLL - typical soft shell crab roll - nicely fried soft shell crab; crispy with good amount of "meat" - standard to other restaurants SHOGUN ROLL: - California roll with teriyaki eel on top - the eel was quite rough and thus disappointing - the California roll had cucumbers, avocado and a cut of imitation crab - not memorable UNAGI: - typical teriyaki flavor - eel was a bit too chewy and fatty - not the best eel I've had SALMON - the thick cuts of salmon make salmon not quite palatable - it takes away the flavor of the salmon as well it's fine texture - good if you like thick salmon that makes you chewy A LOT TUNA - not a great amount of flavor but bearable - also not memorable GREEN TEA (COMPLIMENTARY) - lacks flavor - pretty much a smal teaspoon just for a subtle green tea flavor to differentiate it from hot water SERVICE: write your name on a list and wait a while to be called. They don't allow reservations but that doesn't stray the people of PDX from visiting. Once we got seated we were handed menus but not quite enough for 6 people (only got 2). When we ordered we found out they ran out of certain fishes by the end of the night like halibut, toro, and uni. I guess it's not hard to believe considering how many people visit this place. (I suppose it was a good thing they didn't have it because I wouldn't be able to eat it anyway.) When we got our food we had to request for plates, which is quite bad since they should know everyone needs plates based on the way the food is served. There actually isn't much service other than to bring the food and carry your plates away. ENVIRONMENT: Japanese vibe to it but nothing extremely authentic. There is a HUGE mural of Japanese culture in the back room. There are a good amount of seats available for the clients. It's very casual and conducive to almost people of all ages. The place can be a bit tight especially on busy nights. Overall, I wouldn't consider it authentic sushi because the cuts are too thick. Also there is too much rice. I may be biased because I'm from Los Angeles, where there are lots of great sushi places. Also NEVER in my life have I seen fish cut that thick and long. This place will definitely make you full. There is a great fullness and price ratio but the quality to other places I've been to is poor. I'm not from Portland, so I don't know how it rates to other places in Portland, but I do KNOW that renown sushi chefs would be disappointed by the way fish is treated here.

    (2)

  • Mark S.

    Huge portions with fresh ingredients! I like to imagine this place like the soup nazi on Seinfeld. They're only open for 5 hours, you put your name on a waiting list for an hour, place your order outside before your table is ready and your food comes out soon after your seated. No one says anything, but everyone knows to hurry and eat! There's someone waiting to sit down!

    (4)

  • Chloe V.

    HUGE FAN OF THE HUGE SUSHI and SASHIMI!! Omg the portions are huge and the fish is pretty good, not amazing but good. I love their salmon sashimi. The rolls are pretty good because of the different types. Definitely worth the wait and money because of the portions.

    (4)

  • Denise L.

    Gotta get here right at opening or you're in for a long wait. The waiting area can only fit around 5 people, so if you're coming in the wintertime, be sure to layer up because you'll probably be out in the cold for a while. Once seated, the food comes pretty quickly, and WOW. The nigiris are HUGE! I took a picture with one piece of salmon and it was the length of the tip of my middle finger to the bottom of my palm. The pieces are thick and fresh. I fell in love with the octopus. I could eat that tako everyday. Best I have ever had! With a big piece of fish, there's also a big chunk of rice. Also, the rolls are incredibly large and delicious as well. Just know you're in for a ton of leftovers! Also, get the salmon skin salad! Besides the wait time, the only negative thing I could say about this place is that there's no take out option. But other than those two negatives, I would say this place is a definite must to visit if you're craving fresh sushi!

    (4)

  • Brandon R.

    Portions Portions Portions. This place has great portions and incredible pricing. The fish is great and fresh. This is one of the best places to grab sushi in Portland if you have a car or can make the trip out. Cute little block it is in as well with a few bars and coffee shops around. I would rate this place 5 stars anyway, however, they do not take reservations and be prepared to wait, and wait and wait. Always a 1 hour wait for food here. Would recommend it if you have the time, patience and hunger to take down their giant pieces of fish!

    (4)

  • Nikki C.

    I don't know why it's so popular. I haven't been here in 6 years and probably won't come back again. The line was long, we waited for about an hour on Sunday. We took our time to order, they gave us 1 menu for 4 people, and they're rushing us like asking if you're ready to order yet 3 times, and when we said we're not, she gave us an attitude (the lady with glasses). We can't ask for more ginger or wasabi, you have to pay extra for that, no matter how much sushi you order. They charge 15% gratuity for 5 or more people or over $100 bill. So we got charged almost $19 for our bill, and we got 4 people. We wouldn't give that much tips for the service we got. You can only order once here, so I guess almost everyone ordered way too much food. When they gave us check, they rushed us so badly like taking everything out of the table even our drinks, like you have to leave right now! If you wanna enjoy eating with your family or friends just don't come here. They have so much ego and pride that they don't care if we don't come back again because they always have people lining up for their food. In my opinion, the reason why they're so popular is because their sushi is huge, lots of rice and thick piece of fish, but for us too much rice and too thick fish kind of ruin the sushi, it's just too much. I really don't think it's worth it for waiting in line for at least an hour for this food and service. *The lady with the glasses is very rude, very unpleasant, and looks like she really hates her job*

    (2)

  • High S.

    Worth the wait. The complaints are from those who don't understand or appreciate the hole in the wall place this, actually, is. Don't expect to be waited on like a child when they are moving that many people through the place. Go to the Pearl if you need to be treated like that and can sacrifice taste in exchange for service. The udon is the best in Portland. The rolls will make it hard to appreciate the sushi elsewhere. Drive to Sellwood or take the 70. You'll need to take a walk after but there are parks and antique shops nearby, thankfully. If you're on a date with someone who likes the fast pace and excellent food, go for it. It's not a place to bring a high maintenance date, though.

    (5)

  • Kevin S.

    Hands down our favorite sushi spot in Portland. Great fish, and even better portion size. They do amazing salmon. Tuna salad. The chef's choice sashimi is a must if you have never been in before. I like that the staff always remembers my wife and I even though they see. A ton of people. Come sunday 20-30 min before they open if you don't want to wait in line.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    Well worth it! The wait sucks but the food is really good and the service is great.

    (4)

  • Ben C.

    5 stars for the sushi. It's amazing. Seriously, huge rolls! But the service needs some serious work. We joined our friends a few minutes after they sat down (a big no no here) and when our food took a little while the server announced to the table: "you're ticket is at the end of the list since the rest of your table showed up late." Luckily for my friend and I, we had been drinking at Portland Bottle Shop around the corner so the bad service was incredibly funny to us. Unfortunately our friends weren't amused. Either way, I would still recommend this place if you want to shove your face with massive pieces of Nemo! Delicious!

    (4)

  • Gregory J.

    Probably the best sushi of ever had an huge pieces. Second time been here in town and only waited 10 to 15 minutes get there around 515 if you want food rather quickly. Amazing amazing amazing and you'll bring some home for sure.

    (5)

  • h p.

    i always heard about this spot and last night was my chance to check it out. let me tell you: i'm still full (mind you... i'm the queen of never getting full from sushi)! we waited an hour and a half (limelight around the corner has great happy hour drinks) before we were seated... the portions are GINORMOUS. the prices are relatively inexpensive for the amount of food one gets. this is definitely not a date spot unless you find shoving an enormous piece of sushi in your mouth sexy.

    (4)

  • Yusuf P.

    I'm from Seattle and i came here with my friends for a mini vacation. My coworker recommended me that this restaurant was the best sushi ever. I got there around 6ish, the restaurant was full, so I put our name is the waiting list. There is 6 of us. We waited for over an hour to get our seat. We ordered so much but they make it so fast. The sushi was huge size portion, and taste incredibly good. We ordered yakisoba and doesn't taste good.. don't order that. Service was friendly. One of the best sushi place that i ever eat. This place is worth of waiting.. I totally recommended to anyone that patient enough to wait.. :p

    (5)

  • Paul K.

    Saburo's is a little hole in the wall place that is easily missed. I was recommended to come here by a few friends, and I'm glad I did. First of all, the service is mediocre. The waiters are inattentive, unfriendly, and don't stop to refill drinks. This was the case the last few times I went there, so its to be expected. Regardless, I came here for the food, and boy...they don't dissapoint. Saburo's offers huge portions of food - rolls/raw fish/handrolls that are not only generous, but delicious. Go with any of the special rolls and you won't be disappointed. The nigiri portions are also big, and the fish is surprisingly fresh. Its not the best quality around, but value-wise you are getting great sushi at a very reasonable price. Definitely try it out, best for those that are hungry and don't care too much about service or top notch quality!

    (5)

  • Christie P.

    I think there are different levels of sushi restaurants, so before you get on your sushi-connissour-high-horse, take into consideration the cost. If you are going to pay maybe 3 bucks for two pieces of salmon nigri, then it isn't going to make your taste-buds orgasm. However, if the fish is fresh and melts in your mouth - then you have the right to be excited that you found a decent sushi joint that's softer on your pocket book. That being said: I heart Saburo's. As my sister-in-law said to me, "Just another reason to move to Portland..." Three of us ordered: - salmon nigri - hamachi nigri - spicy tuna roll - real crab California roll (real crab?! c'mon!) - tuna maki - spider roll At a normal restaurant, this would have probably made all our tum-tums content, but alas - you're at Saburo's. We took almost all the tuna maki home! HUGE rolls and, though I don't think bigger is better, every bit was flavorful and delicious! And our bill was less than 40 bucks! Can I get a high-five, seriously!? Super-downer: the wait, but I say give this place a try.

    (4)

  • mirrorpond a.

    Okay all, long line doesnt matter, no room doesnt matter, high price doesnt matter..just shut up and binge!!! MMM YUM

    (5)

  • Stephy S.

    There is sushi and then there is raw fish the size of Moby Dick on your plate. I generally prefer the first one, but if you are hungry and like your portions large and in charge, then i think you will dig it. Apparently this place is one of the best local sushi haunts in Portland, but I have to be honest and say that I wasn't blown away. The toro was totally stringy and pretty awful, the yellowtail was okay, the scallops alright, the salmon was really good and I normally hate salmon, but this one was fresh and tasty. We also tried the shrimp tempura, which was good, although I didn't like the sauce it came with. It was way too sweet. Their ponzu sauce was a bit off as well and tasted way too smokey. Maybe Portland just isn't a big sushi town or maybe I am totally spoiled by the abundance of amazing sushi places in LA, but yeah, it was good for a place we didn't have to wait more than 3 minutes to get seated at, but if we had had to wait like most of the people in line for an hour+, then I woulda been pretty bummed.

    (3)

  • Tim B.

    This place is reviewed plenty, but I went again recently so here goes: The sushi is just too big, and I can't handle that much bad sushi. I shouldn't have to eat a roll piece in three bites, not getting all of the ingredients all together in any of them. How about better fish and less of it? So why the extra star? The tempura was good, and the 1-hour wait led to the discovery of Kay's bar across the street, which was a surprisingly cool place to hang out.

    (2)

  • Brandon H.

    Best sushi I have had and biggest sushi I've eaten. These rolls are 5+ biters. The wait can be long sometimes, but entirely worth it!

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    If you love fish, come here. If you're a sushi snob, well you love fish and you should still come here. If you're a sushi snob who doesn't really know anything about fish, go spend twice as much for half as much somewhere else. I love fish, and when my SF food-snob gf insisted we come here I knew she wouldn't steer me wrong. Despite having to put up with the puddles of dirty college students, what a time! I could not believe my eyes when the food came, and again when the bill came. I'm still not sure it wasn't an illusion...

    (5)

  • jason k.

    Maybe im wrong but to me sushi is all about balance. The right size piece of fish balanced with the correct amount of rice. Rolls that are tight and sized to comfortable fit in your mouth. Maybe im wrong but thats how it seems to me sushi shouid be. The rolls here are freakishly large and even the most seasoned porn star could not fit one in there mouth. Dont get me wrong I apprciate the generosity. But I really cant ignore how out of balance everthing is.

    (2)

  • Paul M.

    SABURo El Crappo tonight! Inconsistant second rate shitto food Thanks Obama less than the generous single star

    (1)

  • Crayon S.

    The only reason I would come here, is if you want the most sushi for your money, because the portions are gigantic. The quality is pretty decent. However, the service is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. Because they tend to be crowded with long lines, the staff will shoo you out of the restaurant when THEY think you are done. One time, they actually told us, "There are a lof of people waiting in line for a table, so if you can hurry up and finish, it will be appreciated" Now, if we were done eating, and we were just chatting, I can understand... However, THEY DIDN'T EVEN BRING ALL OF OUR FOOD YET! Maybe if they stopped harassing us, and actually brought our food, we could leave faster. Another time, they harassed us, and told us that we need to "hurry up and order, because we are making everyone wait". Now if we were undecided with what we wanted, and kept asking for more time, I can understand. However, we knew what we wanted, but nobody would take our order. Every time we tried to flag somebody down, they ignored us or said they'd be "right back". And I don't know how many times they banged our chairs as they walked thru. They even told me to not hang my jacket on my chair, becuase, "it was getting in our way", as they walked out of the kitchen...

    (1)

  • Bel L.

    No Japanese sushi restaurant beats Saburo's. My husband and I waited 2 hours last time in Portland to get a table to fill up on delicious and huge chunks of sushi and sashimi. I also really love their age-dashi tofu. My all-time favorites has to be their creamy scallop sushi and their special tuna/salmon/yellowtail roll. I have to come here every time I visit Portland!

    (5)

  • Alice R.

    SUPERSIZE ME SUSHI. If you want sushi maki rolls as big as your head, this is your place. For me, I pass. I'd rather opt for the sublime. I'd rather have a sliver of toro if the cut is perfection. I will say Saburo's is cheap. I'm glad I tried it. But would I brave another night in line for this place....probably not. If I have some out of town friends I'd like to have fun with, I may head back. But not likely.

    (4)

  • Sho I.

    BEST SUSHI PLACE IN THE STATE OF OREGON HANDS DOWN!!! Now I know that other sushi and Japanese places have been starting to open up in Portland. I don't know about any of these places and honestly I don't care---for one, I'm living in Seattle now, so I can be a Japanese food whore all my want and get my Japanese food/sushi fix in Seattle. When I come back to Portland, however, more likely than not I will make a trip to Saburo's. I remember going to Saburo's early to get a parking spot in their private lot and wait in line around 4:15pm---that's how good it is. The place does not open for lunch, which I don't blame them considering all the business they get for dinner. My biggest fave sushi is the SALMON BELLY---SO GOOD OM NOM NOM. Also, the other rolls are HUGE and price wise it's so freaking CHEAP! I never try the other cooked foods like oyakodon or calamari because this place is famous for its cheap and large ass sushi, and that's ok! I see some reviews about bad/slow service with big groups and what not, but this place is not really appropriate for a large group. Even though they expanded the restaurant a little bit with the back area, it's still not that big, so I would not recommend coming here with a party of more than 4 peeps.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    The lines are bound to be longer, but the sushi is well worth the wait...

    (5)

  • Matthew N.

    Location: Sellwood neighborhood off of SE Milwaukie and Bybee. Parking: on-street parking. A wise man once said, "good things come to those who wait." I think he was talking about Saburo's sushi. The wait is long (40+ minutes), but well worth it. I would recommend either going at least 30 minutes prior to opening, OR writing your name down on the list and hitting up the wine bar next door or Laurelwood Brewing Co. around the corner. DAMN they serve some of the most ridiculously enormous sushi/sashimi you will ever see, and it's actually pretty cheap. And I'm no fish expert, but I think the quality of the fish actually isn't that bad either. No super fishy aftertaste is always a good thing in my opinion. The service is always pretty friendly but rushed because your seat is a hot commodity. Be sure you mark everything you want to order because you can only order once. I always get a kick out of their hand rolls because they're the size of a baby's arm. I would recommend the Mt. Hood roll (especially on a cold day because it's deep fried and comes with a warm dipping sauce), Salmon Skin hand roll, Tamago nigiri (the same size as your omelet from brunch!), and if you aren't into sushi or rolls, I was very pleasantly surprised by the Chicken Katsu-Don. Price, value, selection, nobody even comes close to Saburo's!!

    (4)

  • Mina S.

    Heard this was THE place, so we went of course. Long line. Only 1 beer available out of maybe 6 draft beers, and the beer was kinda warm and flat. 50 minutes wait after order. Food looked delicious and great, but kind tasteless and mediocre. Plus, the rolls were too big so it all ended up like a pile on my plate. The ahi nigiri was great, though. And why is my stomach hurting right now? Been there done that, it's not worth coming back, for me at least. There's better sushi here in this town.

    (2)

  • Katrina W.

    Here's how much I hate lines: if, God forbid, I end up in a place like Wal-Mart, and I have spent two hours filling up an entire cart full of stuff that I've needed for 3 years, and I walk up to register and there's a clusterclump of lines and no easy way out, I will abandon my full cart in the aisle and just go home. Not. Worth. It. Needless to say, Christmas is exclusively Amazon now. Screen Door? Fat chance. Understandably, then, I have resisted Saburo's for at least 10 years. Apart from the notorious wait, everything I'd heard about it rubbed me the wrong way: teeny inside, crush/rush, smells kinda fishy in there, but it's oh-so-cheap and the portions are HUGE! HUGE I tell you! So not my idea of a nice sushi experience. Last night, I finally caved and agreed to meet a friend there for dinner. At 6:30pm, there was a line, but barely a line. Weird! A sign on the door said their system was down, so they could only take cash. Ahaaaa... Luckily we had cash. Yelp asks me to rate its ambience: casual? divey? classy? Not really any of those things. It's more like: supermarket? It's super bright, a little loud, you don't want to stay for long, and they want you to keep moving. And contrary to what I'd heard, it didn't smell like fishy business, so that was good. We ordered two rolls plus a salmon skin salad and some salmon nigiri. When we got our order, it's like I'd forgotten where we were, because my first thought was: WHOA! Those portions are HUGE! And the food was actually pretty yummy. The joint has like 600 reviews, so I don't need to give it that extra benefit-of-the-doubt star, so I'm gonna stick with 3 and say: Saburo's. If I had to wait, I wouldn't go, but it's OK when the line is low.

    (3)

  • Summer S.

    Biggest sushi ever I've tried in my life. What I usually order are hamachi, salmon, and Saburoll. I felt their Agedashi-tofu is too sweet. Fish are fresh and tasty. But I wish they put less rice on the sushi. Sometimes I feel it's too much. I love the sushi here, but the reason why I give just 4 starts is their service. To me, it seems like they don't know how to treat customers. I understand the place gets super busy, but hey, we come here to enjoy the moment to have dinner, NOT being treated like a shit.

    (4)

  • Bonny L.

    Coming from the Bay Area, there are many great sushi spots already here so my bar for sushi is pretty high. I get the draw of big rolls..but this place just put too much rice in their rolls and found the seaweed was hard to eat. Plus, rolls should be cut into sizes where it is easy to eat.

    (2)

  • Grace T.

    Long wait, but if you're looking for GIGANTIC SUSHI then this is the place for you!

    (4)

  • Alena C.

    Overall: The wait was too long for the food. There are too many good sushi places around to wait in a line here. A-Sushi roll sizes and Naguri Sushi is way to big. Not okay. B-Spicy Octopus Salad was the best thing. Yum. C- Don't even think about re-ordering.

    (3)

  • Lisa H.

    This was the first place I ate at when I visited Portland for the first time! It is really good! The sushi were so big and delicious! I wonder what the sashimi is like.. we only got rolls and udon that time I went. I highly recommend this place and will definitely go back. It's a bit cramped inside but cozy is nice :) Also we were lucky since there is usually a line, but people in our party were there early and waited in line. Don't expect to get a table right away!

    (4)

  • Amos Y.

    As everyone has said, this place serves super sized sushi for the same price as many other sushi joints. A piece of sashimi is like the size of a piece of SPAM. So it's quite a good deal. Of course their sushi quality is not top notch, jiro (watch jiro dreams of sushi) would probably cry at these abominations of sushi, but the quality is quite competitive with many other sushi restaurants, and the value is great. Yah, you have to wait in line for an hour, and they open around 4pm. But you can come and write down your name, than walk around for 45 mins then come back. They only allow you to order once, but remember to take into account the sushi size. We were getting pretty full, so to finish the sushi we ditched some of the rice. Also, the waitress told us that if you don't want so much rice you can ask them to reduce it, so as not to waste as much. Also we ordered the chef's choise sashimi, but sadly that sashimi was normal sized, and tasted pretty much the same as the nigiri sushi equivalents, but just cost more.

    (5)

  • Kai L.

    Love this place! Huge sushi, excellent quality!

    (5)

  • Stephanie D.

    worst food i've ever had. Everything about it was just wrong and gross. the seared fish tasted like a dirty pan, the fish was not fresh at all, the miso soup came out of a machine, the wasabi was all watered down and soupy. gross. If I could give this place 0 stars I would.

    (1)

  • Nina H.

    This place has the craziest sushi EVER. And by crazy, I mean CRAZY BIG. Oh my goodness. I swear the eel was the length of my friend's face. It was ridiculously large but ridiculously scrumptious!!! I love sushi and the two almost three hour wait for this restaurant was worth it. I came with three other people and we were told to wait forever but we decided to venture around the block to kill time and we ended up finding another joint to sit and drink wine while we waited. So the wait wasn't too bad but I would've given Saburo's 5 stars if the place was more accommodating to eliminate unnecessarily lengthy wait times. We ordered a plethora or sushi... eel, california rolls, creamy scallops (TO DIE FOR!), salmon, tuna, and a lot more than I cannot remember right now. We also ordered hot sake to go with the sushi because that is a must at sushi restaurants. It was absolutely tasty and soo cheap! I love the no tax thing in Portland. People who live near Saburo's are so blessed... and I'm truly jealous because I am definitely a fan!

    (4)

  • Mimi V.

    I came here because my friends said it was really good. We waited for 1.5 hours. Was it worth it? No. Maybe 15 minutes max i would wait. Nonethless, the sushi was HUMONGO, i dont know if that's a good thing or bad, but to me i like a normal size sushi that will fit in your mouth so you could taste everything. The sushi didnt had anything special about it besides the size of it. The green tea was really diluted with water. I tried a chow mein dish and it was really salty. If i lived in the area, i would come back, but because i live in California, it would be a waste of my time to stop by this place. Service: 3 Food: 2.5 Overall: 3.0

    (3)

  • Jesse M.

    Big portions and good fresh taste. Expect a wait and sign up on a list. Recently, they have a new hostess who seems to not understand the concept of a list, specifically that you should go down the list instead of skipping 8-10 customers of same group size. Today, instead of a simple wait that most pdx'rs are used to, people have to compete to get her attention. I hope they once again figure out this very simple concept soon.

    (3)

  • Sola L.

    3 stars only. I guess I just expected more. The people I went with said this is by far one of the best sushi places in Portland. I sure hope not... The wait was ridiculously long. My friend had to put our names down 2-3 hours before. That made it seemed like this place would be amazing... We ordered 4 rolls and the ahi tuna appetizer. The rolls in general were good, but nothing to die for. They were not amazing. The fish did taste fresh. Some of the rolls were too big and not rolled tight enough (which made them fall apart once you picked them up with chopsticks). I did like the ahi tuna appetizer though, I think that was my favorite. We also had a round of miso soup, but it was watery. I definitely had better elsewhere. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating, which was appreciated. I'm not sure if I'll be back here especially if there is a long wait.

    (3)

  • Shane N.

    HUGE Portions! CHEAP! Tasty! This is the only restaurant I go to any more to get my sushi fix. Just be aware the lines are long, be prepared for a wait. About $40 for two people for more sushi than you can eat.

    (5)

  • Julia R.

    Yeah, Saburo gets a little bumpin' and the long wait is a bummer, but the sushi is worth it. Gigantic rolls and good prices. Leftovers for later are almost guaranteed.

    (4)

  • Adriana M.

    I've been coming here for years service has never been their strong point food is good. I was just in today we where a party of 4 we had to split our bill 4 ways. We even did the math for them so they would charge us correctly. In the end they still managed to mess up our total. They didn't charge 15% gradituity to 2 of our friends and added the whole tip to mine and my boy friends. So we ended paying not just out tip but the other 2 people's tip as well and they said our totals didn't add up. I will be talking with someone next time I go in because this is unacceptable. Tip should be earned not expected. Last time I checked you charge 15% gradituity to a party of 6 not 4.

    (2)

  • Bob S.

    I love the sushi at Saburo's. It's obviously one of the best places in Portland since there is always a line. I've always been very impressed with the food but the large portion sizes are what really make this a great experience. They have so much more than just sushi, too. Get there early (at least a half hour before they open) or you will be waiting a looooong time! But it's definitely worth the wait!

    (4)

  • Kevin J.

    I shall not waste too much breath on Saburo's. Connor.T says it best; large portions, for very average fish, and long lines for no reason. A place for those new to sushi to become impressed very easily. If I could tell someone, ANYONE in line; it would be, "head around 3.6 miles northeast to Yoko's, you and your stomach will thank me!"

    (1)

  • Sharon Q.

    Got there at 430 seated by 515. As stated, fish was very fresh. Delicious. My daughter, the unagi queen, thought it the best she ever had. The spider roll, so fresh and crunchy. First time there. Will def be back!

    (5)

  • Jedd C.

    First of all, 53 reviews...you know people are going to Saburo's for a reason: Value Definitely the biggest cuts of fish (pretty fresh) for the price. To compare, 2 pieces of Saburo nigiri sushi = 4 pieces of Mio nigiri (for the same quality and same price). Even the rolls are humongous... You should decide whether to eat at Saburo's depending on your mood, or who you are with: Saburo's is for those that want to leave full and satisfied.... Saburo's is not for people who want authentic, traditional, innovative sushi...or for the ambiance for that matter It's like trying to decide on Subway or Kenny's and Zuke's for a sandwich.... Either way, i'd still recommend going to Saburo's at least once...and if you do, go early cause it get's busy..Happy Eatings...

    (3)

  • Rachael J.

    "Saburo's didn't get 5 starts for atmosphere... those stars are all for the food! HUGE portions, plan on sharing. Everything was very fresh and best of all you can request not to have any mayonnaise sauces on the rolls. I went with a regular, so he knew to arrive before the 4:30 pm opening time to avoid the wait. A trip is worth the wait in the line, but I don't have much patience waiting for food. Many of the other patrons printed out the menu ahead of time and marked their orders allowing them to be at the front of the line in the kitchen."

    (5)

  • Derrick W.

    One of my favorite places in Portland! Just need to get there early or you would be waiting in a LONG line!

    (5)

  • Quynh b.

    WACK. It's like McDonalds. Cheap, Supersized, and who the hell knows where they got their fish from. But unlike McDonalds, people wait 30+ min for it. The fish was poor quality. I don't know how anyone can eat it. I'd rather get smaller portions but great quality in fish. Maybe because I was seated at the bar and saw how everything was handled. YUCK. I wanna pretend it was clean. But I can't deny what my eyes saw. Portland... this is BAD sushi!!!! Don't go for it just because its cheap and big. Sushi is sushi because of the quality of the fish. Without fresh grade A fish then it's just not sushi. Period.

    (2)

  • Alissa R.

    This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland! The rolls are HUGE and the fish is super fresh and tastes incredible. My favorites are the Hawaiian Roll and the Salmon Belly Nigiri... yum! Yes the wait is often a deterrent but if you go later in the evening on a week day, you shouldn't have to wait more than 15 min (results not always typical and of course excludes Friday).

    (5)

  • Alan F.

    There are so many great reviews about Saburos here I figure no point in being repetitive. So I will try something a little different and put in my two cents from a vegetarian perspective. So vegetarians and vegans take notice, the vege sushi is great, absolutely wonderful, tasty and filling! Saburos has a very decent selection of food for us vege types. Some folks here on Yelp have criticized Saburos for having "quantity over quality". Well, I respectfully disagree. I think the popularity of the restaurant speaks for itself about both the quantity and quality. Okay back to a vegetarian's perspective. The vege rolls are not only generous in size but delicious. They seem to get how to make tasty vegetarian rolls. Look, I'm not a big guy, but I appreciate a Japanese restaurant where I can get a reasonable sized, non-budget breaking, order of vege sushi and not come out hungry. I especially like the vege roll and Budokhon roll. The vegetable tempura is wonderful - crisp and not greasy. If you have non-vege folks in your party also ordering sushi, its probably a good idea to ask your server to put your vege sushi on a separate serving dish. Otherwise, you may find some fish eggs from a spider roll, for instance, spilling over on to your vege rolls. As other reviewers have mentioned, it can get crowded, and their can be a long line, so if you don't want to wait too long you should either get their before they open or come for a late dinner.

    (5)

  • Liz G.

    Saburos rocks. Yes, you have to wait. No, they won't call you. This is my favorite sushi in Portland. The hamachi collar and baby octupus are some of my favorites. The portions are huge and it is affordable. I have liked all the rolls I got there. Well worth putting up with the hecticness of getting seated and your food order in.

    (5)

  • Stina L.

    Yes the wait is long. Yes you can only order once. But I have never left here feeling anything but satisfied. The sushi is great and always tastes fresh. The staff is pretty attentive even though they're handling tons of people. Once I've sat down I don't ever feel rushed and can sit and enjoy my salmon sashimi and tea in peace. I would definitely recommend the nigiri and sashimi. I haven't tried many of the fancy rolls but be warned that you will most likely accidentally order too much and leave with a giant to go box of leftovers.

    (4)

  • Justin V.

    Long line. Big rolls & cuts. Average taste. Super busy. Can only order once.

    (3)

  • Vic B.

    The fattest nigiri's I've been too. They are not stingy at all! Their warn Sake is bomb and there specialty sushi are really good and of course not stingy at all!

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    I want to come back here for 1 reason, and 1 reason only: Salmon belly. Now I've gone and ruined the secret. I have never had a cut of fish like this anywhere else. It was almost as if I was eating a piece of butter. So amazingly delicious. The rest of the rolls were ok, and I agree that overall there is too much rice in things. It makes the sushi huge, which means I have to tear things apart and remove the rice. I still think Bamboo is my favorite sushi in Portland, but man am I still dreaming about that salmon belly.

    (4)

  • Jenine G.

    Sushi is great BUT after we waited 2.5 hours for a party of 3, we were then told our food would take 45min to come out AND that they would be closing soon so could not place any additional orders. Will not be coming back here.

    (1)

  • Jacob M.

    I just thought it was ok, which was surprising always seeing the line outside of people waiting. The sushi was decent and I will say the rolls are large, which I appreciate, but it's just kinda average inside for decor, divided up oddly with the front and back too. I wouldn't say it's bad, just wouldn't wait outside in the cold for it.

    (3)

  • Libby C.

    The sushi is giant. Seriously. It's bigger than my palm. But damn, is it delicious. My biggest fault with this place is the line (the wait?). The line starts forming outside 45 minutes to an hour before the restaurant opens. I'm not joking. I seriously love this place. I love the giant sushi, and the fact that I can order more sushi than I can eat for under $20 and have a few extra pieces for a midnight snack.

    (5)

  • Linh D.

    People rave about this place and being new, we had to try. I know why this place always has a wait...the price and portion! The sushi is huge! I know the sushi here has been Americanized but come on - does it have to be supersize? Big does not make better. And no, the sushi here is not that great.

    (2)

  • Joanna C.

    My best friend and I went to Portland for a day trip. And we've been dying to try the famous Saburo's that our friends always rave about. Read someone's yelp review that you have to wait at least 2 hours long. That person was not kidding. I put my name down at 5 and I did not get in until 7:15. But I didn't mind because delicious food is always worth the wait. The sushi is the size of your fist. The presentation of their sushi will make anyone's mouth water. After ordering a rainbow roll, 4 orders of salmon, a order of seared albacore, a order of seared salmon and a side of ahi tuna poke, I couldn't breathe. But in all honesty, it was good... but not great. I've had better sushi in Seattle where the quality of the sushi tastes more fresh. Ladies and gentleman, it's not about the quantity, it's all about the quality. Just because it looks fatty and you get a decent amount of fish doesn't translate to great sushi. I was also thrown off with how much rice the nigiri had. A true nigiri should never have such a heavy load of rice underneath the fish. If I come back to Portland again, I wouldn't come here again, because it wasn't as impressive as people hyped it up to be. I could eat better sushi in Seattle than drive three hours to get to Portland, and wait an additional two hours for mediocre sushi.

    (3)

  • Paul E.

    This place has gone down a few notches. The rolls are big but taste mass produced now. The wait is what makes the food taste better. By the time you get in you're starving and you'll eat about anything and be happy you got it. Get with it guys, get a bigger space and go back to making better sushi.

    (2)

  • Tristan D.

    OMG. This was amazing. Went there on a Wednesday night and had to wait almost an hour to sit at the bar. The sign said their machine was down and that it was cash only but from what I've read on the reviews it appears that sign is always there so just note it is cash only. I can't even describe how large the rolls ar, everyone was walking out with a to-go box. The sushi itself is so fresh it is absolutely delicious. I especially loved the Philly crunch roll. We also got the rainbow roll and the dragon roll and started off with fried calamari. The rolls were better than the calamari. Our check was not given to us abruptly like some stated. We did not feel rushed, we had our check at the end of our meal, and we did not see the mean lady with glasses. Lol we were told to do this on a weeknight and not the weekend because the weekends are absolutely nuts.

    (5)

  • C T.

    After hitting a couple of buckets from the range down the street, I needed to refuel myself with something nice and warm (since it was raining outside). I am not much of a sushi fan, but I do like my udon and ramen. So my friend and I decided to stop in and grab a quick bite. Luckily for us, the wait wasn't too long. He had a sampler plate filled with big pieces of sushi. I had the udon and the fried gyoza. It is true what they say, anything that is deep fried, tastes sooo much better. The udon was also pretty good. It was served in the claypot, thus keeping the heat in longer. The decor is nothing fancy, the servers were attentive to our needs, and the price was reasonable

    (4)

  • Jim C.

    I live near Saburo's and almost every night, I see huge lines of folks waiting to get in. They start around 4:30, even before the restaurant opens and last until 9. Clearly, this place has loyal, devoted followers, who are willing to endure a wait of an hour or more to eat here. I find this baffling, because the place really isn't that great. Oh, sure, the portions are huge. Gonzo-huge. Like--- nigiri pieces that are four inches long-- and rolls that are two inches wide. And, the cost is pretty low, as sushi goes (which does make me wonder how exactly it is that they can afford to give such huge pieces). My wife and I have eaten their three times for dinner and left more than sated for about $30. But... the thing is, the sushi itself isn't that good. It's not *bad* mind you. But, it's just kind of... OK. The rolls aren't very creative, the fish doesn't glisten and pop with super-freshness (the scallops I got last night, for instance, lacked the sweetness I usually associate with scallops... they just seemed kind of bland and squishy, like they'd been sitting in the fridge for a while), and the rice seems heavy, with too much moisture in it. Also, I have to say the service here is pretty unfriendly. It's not outright rude-- but it's clear that the staff has the goal of taking your order ASAP, bringing it to you, and then rushing you out as quickly as possible. I can understand them wanting to turn tables around, but it's just rushed and mechanical. For example, last night, we ordered a bottle of sake. The server brought it to our table, plopped it and the cups down loudly, and them whizzed away, leaving it for us to open and pour. Whenever a server brought something (the sake, the food, the tea, the checks) and we said "Thank you" we didn't even get an acknowledgement. In short, if you've got a craving for sushi and your main concern is maximizing the quantity-to-cost ratio-- Saburo's may be the place for you. It will fill your craving and stuff it to the gills, and then stuff it a little more. But if you're looking for something a bit more creative, or elegant, or fresher, or higher quality-- or if you care about friendly service and nice ambience-- there are definitely better places to go. For other places nearby in the SE, I'd recommend Tani's on Woodstock or Sushi Maza on Division.

    (2)

  • Mark W.

    Saburo's has been around for a long time. My wife and I have taken our daughters there since they were in high school as they love sushi. That's over 15 years ago and the restaurant is still going strong. Main reason they are so successful is they believe in moving large volumes at a great price. Not your typical sushi place as the portion cannot be eaten with one bite. The sushi portions are ginormous! The portions are typically 2 to 3 times the normal portion size of most sushi places. Of course you can't be successful just by doling out huge portions without the food being tasty. Last time we dined there we ordered a couple of rolls (huge): 2 types of tuna; salmon; calamari and tofu appetizers. Portion size for the appetizers was big too! Tuna and salmon were very tender and fresh although huge pieces! I am sure the sushi chefs there has lots of experience slicing the fish to yield tender cuts. Plus the amount of food they sell makes sure the fish doesn't sit for too long. Be sure when you place your order to cut what you normally order by half. You can always order more as the portions are at least double what you normally would get at other sushi places.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    Learning from reviews and their website, there is pretty much always a wait, so my sister and I arrived just before their opening time on Wednesday and there was already a line outside the door that wrapped around the building into the parking lot. Luckily we just made it in the door as the line filed in filling all the tables. Look at size of nigiri before ordering! The nigiri and rolls are pretty much double the size of regular sushi places, so be sure to keep that in mind while ordering. I did no such thing when I was there. Unfortunately. The sushi is not the freshest, but it was edible. Seeing such a huge piece of raw fish on top of a giant piece of rice may be too much to handle for those with a soft heart for animals though. The price is not bad for the size you get, but to be honest, I can't eat that much sushi and I like the variety, so I would prefer to pay a bit more at a place where I can order more of a variety of sushi without feeling the guilt of wasting food. If you prefer quantity over quality, then this is the place for you! I prefer to see sushi as a delicacy and I enjoy seeing the artful presentation of each dish, versus all the nigiri piled onto one giant plate. They also do not have ice for your water. They said the only ice they have is for those who ordered soda. This I have not heard ever my life. Their sesame salmon skin salad was really good though! If I go back, I'll most likely just get that salad and maybe one nigiri order and try something new on the menu.

    (3)

  • Kristina K.

    This is me not praising my new favorite sushi joint. The wait is long enough. I don't need more Portlanders to compete with. To come to Saburo's not starving for sushi wouldn't make sense. The portions are ginormous. If you like eel, get the eel, you will not be disappointed. Be careful because you can easily order too much here. The service is very prompt. Ready, set, eat and go. If you're looking for a little romance, this is not the place.

    (4)

  • Alyssa C.

    The definition of 3 stars is "A-OK" - and that's what I'm going to stick with. It's not bad, it's not great. I personally don't see the hype (You want to wait 1.5 hours to eat mediocre sushi...why?) The other thing is the rolls are ENORMOUS, which I guess is exciting to some people but frustrating to me because how the heck are you supposed to eat an enormous roll like that? Taking bites of sushi just doesn't work. Granted, I think this place is a great value and you get a lot for not spending a ton. Oh, and they like to keep business moving here, so don't go and expect to hang around and chat - once you're done, they want to get you out so the next people waiting can go!

    (3)

  • Chelsea B.

    Best dang sushi place around! It's always a treat to go to Saburo's. The portions are insane! We love this place!

    (5)

  • Lindsay Z.

    Long waits, cheap sushi, and enormous portions. Not exactly what I'm looking for when I want a sushi dinner. If you're not there at 4:30, expect to wait a LONG time for a table, especially on weekends. The portions are so huge that you can only really order one or two rolls before you're full. I guess this place is good if you want americanized japanese food at dirt cheap prices (which to me seems a bit sketchy when eating raw fish).

    (2)

  • M K.

    Let me start with the bad and get it out of the way: There is often a wait. On certain days, especially weekends, I believe, they won't let you order to go. It's sort of small and the decor / environment could use some updating. The service can suffer a little, especially if they are too busy. Now on to the positive: As you've probably read already in the other reviews, they offer up large portions. Everything is big. Rolls, sashimi, nigiri etc. They don't hold back on giving you your money's worth. I've eaten here about 6 or 7 times now and maybe once or twice, one of the types of fish that I ordered wasn't 'really good'. I've always left full. You'll notice that many people leave with food. Either they order to go or they can't finish what they've ordered. I will often order a roll to go and eat it the next day for lunch. If you're an ambiance snob with money to burn, then maybe Saburo's isn't for you! However, if you just want to get your sushi on, and you don't want to break the bank, Saburo's is a win. I definitely recommend this place, but there is also room for improvement.

    (4)

  • Jovan D.

    Love this place! Huge portions for a sushi restaurant. The trick is to be patient and come early. It's a fairly small restaurant and there WILL be a line.

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    LOVE this place! I'm a Seattleite but if ever I'm in Portland, I'm headed to Saburo's by 430pm and making sure I'm one of the first ones in to get my fist-sized portions of albacore and everything else from the depths of the sea! I can't say much about service because once I get my food, I'm zoned out. I do occasionally look up to refill my diet Coke, but aside from that, I'm in a food coma waiting for my bill.

    (5)

  • Sara C.

    Tiny squishy restaurant, with the HUGEST SUSHI ON EARTH. I Loved it here! We ended up waiting in line for 45min but had arrived a little earlier than we would eat dinner anyway, so we weren't too grumpy about it. I was a little weirded out to see so many people walk out with to-go boxes filled to the top, but after eating here I get why. The servings are so HUGE and totally worth it's price that it makes no sense not to order your dinner for that night and maybe tomorrow night too. And maybe for a friend or two. The environment is really mediocre- too crowded and just decently put together. But gosh, the serving sizes and service made up for everything. We ordered a roll with NO tuna but ended up getting an alternative form of the regular red tuna (white tuna vs red tuna? I don't know). We said no problem and just picked it off but got a free sashimi of salmon as token of apology. And again- HUGE SERVING, so that one freebie was like getting 3 regular sized ones. How awesome is that :) The udon was spicy (next time we'll ask for no pepper) but was fabulously decorated with veges. Rolls had too much rice, but who cares when the slices of fish are made for a giant's mouth anyway. I also love that you can print out their menu on their website and order as soon as you get seated. The only really negative thing we experienced was that at the end of our meal we asked for the check and they immediately cleaned off the next table and scooted it RIGHT NEXT TO OUR TABLE. Which meant the next party sat RIGHT NEXT TO US, as if we were 1 giant party. Just a really terrible idea and not sure why they thought that would be ok, because it wasn't. But since everything else worked out, I think I can forgive them this time... I'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Joseph K.

    If you're ever in oregon, hit this place up for a pretty cool experience. Portion sizes are ridiculous. I had unagi that literally was the length of my whole hand from my fingers to my wrist. The quality of the fish and even the cutting isn't the most out of this world, but it'll do. (Who really knows what fresh, or quality fish means anyway ...most of us have been conditioned to think one way and our perception of freshness and quality when it comes to sushi is skewed anyway.) This place is more for those who have time to wait in a line and want to get full off of rice and sushi. The non-sushi items such as the katsu, etc are equally good. While I will most likely not crave the sushi itself for the most amazing flavor, whenever I want to get mad full or want that fun dining experience, i'll think of Saburos and gladly go again.

    (4)

  • Catherine D.

    It's been a while since I've been here and I noticed some things have changed and yet some are still the same. The long wait time is still the same, but it's a happy surprise to see that their service has improved. I no longer need to portion how much water / tea that I drink over time in fear of never ever see the waiter / waitresses passing by to refill the water until the end when they show us the bill. I still think the agedashi dofu here is the best in comparison with the other Japanese restaurants around Portland area, and it's still the only place that I know where you can find giant sushi!! The Unagi and the salmon belly is a must order every time I go. Salmon skin salad.. YUMM!!! The hawaiian roll wasn't as fresh as I recalled, but maybe it's a miss for this time. One thing for sure, my out of town friends always ask me to take them here when they come and visit - and that's the time when I wish that they open the restaurant closer to my place.

    (4)

  • milo m.

    The only things Saburo's has going for it are price and portion size. The fish is not quality and the ginormous pieces can't fit in your mouth (I'm 6' 1", and a ravenous eater). The wait is ridiculous. If you know what good sushi is, skip it. If you're on a budget and looking for quantity, dig in. Starter hack sushi, wish there was something good in the hood. Technically i'd give it 2 stars, but feel the need to counterbalance the masses.

    (1)

  • justin y.

    Cheap, fresh, and big. Everything I want in a sushi joint. And in some strange, masochistic way, the long wait enhances the allure of the experience. Try Tuesdays for shorter lines.

    (5)

  • Margie N.

    This place is amazing... I'd come here every day if I lived closer [I'm only a state away, that's not so bad, right?]. The wait is ridiculous and the restaurant is tiny, but the portions are HUGE and the fish is pretty freaking fresh. And its cheap. So the pros clearly outweigh the cons. The service is fine, you just have to get someone's attention. Thank god the food didn't take very long, or I would have had to start snatching things off my neighbor's table [lord knows their food was close enough, it was pretty much a communal table!]. I would definitely recommend the spicy tuna over green salad, or at least some kind of appetizer to hold you over till the sushi's done. And can they please expand?! I'm not waiting in that line again.

    (4)

  • Curtis L.

    did not live up to the hype... we came expecting to be wowed and wowed we were not. we expected more since we waited 45 minutes to be seated. when you arrive among the throng of people waiting, you need to sign in on the clip board on the wall next to the door. It was Sunday evening so I did not expect the wait. We went for a walk around the neighborhood which was nice. Upon our return, the list had not gotten smaller but we were getting closer. After being called and told which table number to go to, we were given a menu to mark our order on. I was was told by my fiance that from the reviews she read, we only get to order once. They have a pretty expansive menu. We ended up decided on a real crab california roll, a sunset roll and a order tempura. While waiting for the food to arrive, i notice this place as a no frills, get orders in and out type place. i also noticed that they served their soda pop out of 2 liter bottles rather than a fountain. I thought that was a little different. We received the tempura first which was hot and you got about 8 pieces. It was light and there nothing fancy about it. a little while later, the sushi arrived. Pretty good in size and tasted just okay. It did taste fresh but nothing to wow me. The price was reasonable. I think the hype of the place drove my expectations up. So expect a good size meal for the price but nothing exceptional. I don't believe it is worth the 45 minute wait so unfortunately, I don't think I will return on any future visits to Portland.

    (3)

  • Alice C.

    Whenever I am in Portland, this is the one place that I absolutely must go pay my respects. The sushi here is so tasty and each piece twice the size of what other places serve. The price is definitely very reasonable for the quantity and quality. If I could take off 1/2 a star, I would for the intolerably long lines (I once waited 1.5 hours just to get in!) and the quality of service. The service isn't bad, it's just slow and unattentive.

    (5)

  • Masha J.

    my favorite sushi joint in portland! always fresh food, always excellent! i don't mind waiting, its worth it.

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    My favorite sushi place :) The sushi here are MONSTROUS, fresh, and absolutely delicious! They're only open for several hours during dinner and there's always a line, but it's totally worth the wait. People are usually lining up before the restaurant even opens. Crazy! The wait can vary between 15 minutes to over an hour. Bring a jacket because you'll be waiting outside. There's not really much around this restaurant. You can chill in the Starbucks from across the street if they're open; usually they are. I've never had any problem with their service here. The people here are always polite and prompt. Even though they say you can only order once, I've never had any issue if I want to order more. But that's rare, because I usually over-order as I forget how huge their sushi are. Saburo's doesn't offer the nicest decor or atmosphere but that's not what Saburo's is about. Yes, it's loud, crowded, often humid and hot, and DIRTY! There are crumbs on the seats, the table tops are sticky, and their restroom reeks. It irked me the first couple of times I went there, too. But Saburo's is about MONDO SUSHI! So yeah, ask for extra napkins, bring hand sanitizers, and don't drink too much -- OR take togo like my cousin-in-law. =D Personal Fave :) - Creamy Scallop - Sweet Raw Shrimp with Fried Shrimp Head - Salmon (Sake?) - Salmon Belly - Spicy Tuna Roll

    (4)

  • Cvetiliana B.

    Their sushi may be huge, but bigger isn't always better. I love Salmon but theirs was just big, it didn't melt in my mouth like others. It was just thick and odd flavored to me. Tried other things that weren't great but won't base my review on them since their not things I would normally order anywhere anyway. Had this one soup too it was very salty with thick noodles, was loaded with some fried stuff I don't know what it was I forget, but the fried stuff quickly got mushy in the soup. The wait was nearly an hour. But even some of the rotating sushi places or whatever their called, are tastier for me. I went here on a date, the guy had taken his fiance here, that's okay, I always take dates to places other dates took me lol. But the problem was his complete disinterest in everything but the food... including me. Though if you talk about one of these isolated topics: the gym/body fat %'s, alcohol/partying, or food, he halfway lights up. If I was a guy, then girls would probably be added to the list, then repeat from the top! Yawn. Whatever happened to talking about Current events? Music? Movies? Philosophy? Traveling? Ones aspirations? What ever happened to inspiring each other? Educating each other? Laughing together? So yeah, it would have been nice had the food at least been the highlight of the evening LOL, really the waitress was. She was so cute and funny, much more engaging than my date who was perhaps reminiscing about old times with someone else LOL.

    (2)

  • Kyle N.

    I used to love going to Saburos. After a 4 year hiatus, this place has changed. Rude waitresses. Price jacked up by almost double and now they're charging a dollar for extra ginger and on top of it all, I can't even decide how much of a tip I want to give because it's already charged with the bill...never going back.

    (1)

  • Derik W.

    I went there for the first time today and it was very disappointing. After waiting in line for an hour in the hot sun, we were rushed to sit down only to be served warm tap water and have to wait another hour for our food. The restaurant was hot for the first half hour, had a weird odor and the service was mediocre at best. On the flip side, the portions of sushi were very generous for the price. However, don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Sean K.

    Saburo's... It's been almost two years since I moved up to Portland and I can't believe this was the first time I have been to Saburo's before... I just want to say money to amt of food and quality of food is quite high here. I know, I know, quality of food isn't as high as the other ones I have been to but it's up there. Portion is great and fish is fresh. Just make sure you don't order too much food there.. otherwise you will leave with whole lot of delicious leftover but that isn't so bad either.

    (4)

  • Praisye S.

    LOVE This place! An hour and half of waiting is totally worth it! The big O roll is my favorite!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:3

Specialities

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

Saburo’s

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