Mikasa Sushi & Ramen Has Opened in Portland’s St. Johns Neighborhood | Eater Portland

"Chicken ramen bowls and spicy tuna rolls have arrived in St. Johns: I saw Mikasa Sushi & Ramen open this week on North Lombard in the space once home to The Sudra. It comes from Fransis Odaya, a Portland Japanese restaurant vet who spent time at Bamboo Sushi as a chef de cuisine and helped open Akasaru with Portland ramen restaurateur Tommy Shin; Odaya says the concept is simply affordable, good food that anyone can enjoy, and he picked St. Johns because there aren’t many places for sushi or ramen there beyond cart Kazumi and the occasional bowl at Mama San Soul Shack. The opening menu focuses on two foundational ramen broths—a chicken paitan (a cloudy, rich broth) and a vegetarian broth made with mushrooms and sunflower seeds—with toppings ranging from pork belly to the “spicy bomb,” aka a mixture of chiles for extra kick. On the sushi side the restaurant sticks to basic rolls and five restaurant-specific maki; Odaya is particularly happy with the Mikasa roll, filled with spicy tuna and panko shrimp, wrapped with Oregon albacore and salmon on the outside and finished with a mustard-soy sauce and finely chopped basil. Odaya plans to keep the menu simple but will expand over time with a handful of sake options and perhaps draft beer, while most bar selections will come from the neighboring Garrison cocktail bar. The counter-service spot delivers ramen and sushi to the outdoor patio so St. Johns can get sushi and a cocktail al fresco; Mikasa is open from 5 to 9 p.m. at 8777 N Lombard Street." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden