Tucked away in Sellwood, Kaede is an intimate sushi bar serving exquisite, high-quality sushi and cooked delights, all crafted with care by a veteran chef couple.
"This Sellwood spot comes from two veteran sushi chefs, who have cut and rolled sushi all over the world before landing in Portland. Fish is flown in fresh from Tokyo’s legendary fish markets, like goldeneye snapper, mackerel, and yellowtail. It’s best to order off of the specials card that arrives with the main menu, though the restaurant also offers omakase-style options and sushi combinations. Reservations are required." - Zoe Baillargeon
"Like Nimblefish, Kaede fills a much-needed gap in Portland’s sushi scene that favors big rolls and small prices. This is high-quality seafood flown in from Japan that doesn’t require saving up for weeks to enjoy—almost all dishes on the menu are under $20. Rotating nigiri specials like golden-eye snapper and halfbeak will satisfy the sushi nerd in your life, while the futomaki will scratch an itch for showier rolls. This never-stuffy kappo-style Sellwood restaurant seats only 15 people at the tables and doesn't take reservations for more than two at the counter. So plan accordingly if you want to book a spot for a semi-special weeknight meal or an anniversary. Food Rundown Battera Sushi This is your rare chance to try a regional specialty from Osaka that presses house-cured mackerel and kelp onto rice to create rectangular sushi that’s buttery enough to win over that friend who sticks solely to California rolls. Omakase While not cheap, $60 for eight pieces of chef’s choice nigiri is a great value for the experience of sitting at the counter while being presented with perfect one-bite edomae sushi à la minute. Especially so when paired with one of the more complex sake offerings from their well-curated list. Salmon Collar You can also treat Kaede like an izakaya—they refer to themselves as a Japanese bistro, after all. It’s not always on the menu, but the succulent grilled salmon collar is fun to tear into with a dining companion." - Krista Garcia
"Kaede fills a much-needed gap in Portland’s sushi scene. It's high-quality seafood flown in from Japan that doesn’t require saving up for weeks to enjoy. Things are kept relatively low-cost—almost all dishes on the menu are under $20. Rotating specials like golden-eye snapper and half beak will satisfy the sushi nerd in your life, while the saba battera (house-cured mackerel served in a square-shaped roll) is buttery enough to win over that friend who sticks solely to California rolls. This kappo-style Sellwood restaurant seats only 15 people and doesn't take reservations for more than two. So plan accordingly if you want to book a spot for a semi-special weeknight meal or an anniversary. " - krista garcia
"Sellwood’s popular kappo-style sushi restaurant is practically made for solo diners: There’s bar seating that allows for maximum engagement and raw fish sliced and pressed onto seasoned rice by chef Shinji Uehara. Parties of one can snag hard-to-get reservations that larger groups can’t — Kaede limits visitors to groups of two. Diners should break out of their salmon and tuna rut by ordering one of the nigiri specials, like lesser-seen golden-eye snapper or try the signature saba battera, a square roll of buttery mackerel that’s cured and punched up with ginger and yuzu." - Nathan Williams, Krista Garcia
"This Sellwood spot comes from two veteran sushi chefs, who have cut and rolled sushi all over the world before landing in Portland. Fish here is flown in fresh from Japanese sushi markets, whether it’s a spear squid topped with uni or bluefin marinated in jalapeno soy sauce. It’s best to order off of the specials card that arrives with the main menu, though the restaurant also offers omakase-style options and sushi combinations. Reservations are required." - Seiji Nanbu, Janey Wong
