Kashiwagi

This will be the most glowing review I've ever written. We happened on this place by accident. Had to eat, lost in Portland's traffic, just parked and walked to the closest place to eat. It was closed. Saw Kashi Wagi (KashiWagi?). They'd just closed but the owners were so kind, they took pity on us and fed us anyway. So sweet of them! Look, this is a hole in the wall joint. Like what you'd find in a back alley in Tokyo (spent a month there, loved the back alleys ;-) but with Portland's trash and noise instead of Tokyo's immaculateness and NOISE. We had five different dishes. My wife spent 3 weeks in Japan. We both knew what to order. It doesn't get better than properly made raw fish, rice, nori and flavors. The Sushi they made was as good as it gets in the U.S., where all fish has to be frozen because of parasites. The freezing softens the fish and tempers the flavor. Still love it. The cuts were perfection. The fish was chosen by someone with an eagle's eye. The rice was right. Flavors were worthy of the best back alley places in Japan. Eat here! No matter bad the traffic, just eat here.

This is such a special place. My friends have been following this chef since his other location. The sushi was some of the best I’ve ever had and it’s so reasonably priced!

Cosy, not a pretentious sushi place. Pretty busy! They are not trying to be the nicest sushi in town. Some prices are good value. The question always in that case is if the fish is OK - I have not had a problem. You can easily pay ~$25 a person if you select a la carte; some combo items are cheaper.

A bit of a hole in the wall (as much as possible for being off Division). Great sushi, good vibes, and the price is right! Coming here on a hot summer day with their jazz playing on the radio makes for an impeccable atmosphere.

Came here for a simple lunch set A and added the tempura combo and takoyaki side. The nigiri are simple and satisfying. The star for us was the tempura (crispy batter with just the right doneness of the ebi and veggies [had carrot, sweet potato, asparagus, pepper]) and the takoyaki. Don't forget to look on the walls for specials not on the menu. We definitely want to try the salmon collar next time.

This is my favorite sushi place in town by far! Everything has a clear homemade flavor to it! Their sushi is so good and they have a lot of variety! Pricing is very reasonable. My husband and I can "feast like kings" for well under $40. I strongly recommend checking them out!

Grabbed a chiraishi don from here. The rice was too vinegary and the fish was not fresh. The fish actually still felt frozen and not thawed well enough. I don't think this place is up to standard for Japanese cuisine.

Quality sushi at a fair and reasonable price point. VERY hole in the wall. Love coming here for a quality meal, but probably not a first date.

A great local spot for fresh and big pieces of sushi! When I came here, it was a bit busy, so I enjoyed the sushi outside (thankfully, it was a warmer day haha). Staff was very friendly and service was good. We ordered a variety of nigiri and two rolls. The portions were HUGE and the fish was pretty fresh. We definitely over-ordered but everything was delicious. Would definitely come back.

We love this place. Before COVID Kashi was over near our place (Terwilliger Plaza built their newest tower on our block). We were THRILLED to find his new location here, a simple bus ride away. You might be a bit worried by the location & ambience, but fear not! Anything you order will be skillfully and beautifully served. And the flavor & freshness match or exceed other classier joints. We always order the oyster hand roll, the seared salmon, and (when available; they go fast) the fried salmon collar. Who else will give you a pot of green tea for $2?? So run don't walk over here. Tell Kashi that Julie & David sent you.

Overall delicious sushi at fairly affordable prices! As for our order, we went with Shrimp Tempura and potato salad to start as appetizers, then for the main course we ordered 2 of the 14 piece set nigiri, 1 12 piece set, and an additional order of the creamy scallop nigir. All the fish was fresh and well cut, and I was a huge fan of the seared salmon which was soft and smokey. Overall $19 for a 14 piece order of nigiri seems like a steal these days, and really appreciate this place for not serving sushi overpriced, as, it doesn't have to be. Everything tasted fresh, delicious, and great quality. Especially coming here to visit from New York, this was a pleasant surprise. Will definitely be adding this to my list of Portland go-to spots!

It's arguably the grungiest sushi spot in PDX. The locale is not ideal with trash dumpsters right next to the few picnic tables for outdoor seating. The neighboring grocery store attracts passerbys that are uncomfortable. Indoor is cramped and really cramped. Decor is a sort of mess mixed with supplies lacking storage. The kitchen is inches away and clamouring is the background music. Service ~ probably what they could afford is a single young person hustling all the tables. Dressed like a teen but serves like a pro. The mannerisms is high polite Japanese level. One of the few spots where tips are well deserved. They always say thank you as you leave. Sushi simple ~ fresh & thick cuts. No fancy sauces. Touch of mayo. And most importantly, perfect rice texture. Japanese street style, great price point, family owned authentic. Repeat customers.

With crazy inflated food prices these days it's a gem when you find a restaurant that provides quality food and value. The lunch combo C was around $16 and came with 14 pieces of sushi. The quality of the rice and fish tasted fair for the price. Interior space feels like an unassuming but quirky curated hole-in-the-wall restaurant. This place is great for a quick and affordable meal.

One of my friends introduced me to this restaurant and I'm glad that she did! This sushi spot is a hidden gem! The sushi here is absolutely out of this world--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I ordered the nigiri 12 piece. The taste was unbelievable, and makes you want more. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they have outdoor seating, which makes for a nice, casual vibe. I also tried the beer, and it was surprisingly good--definitely added to the experience. The service was great. I'll be back for sure!

We decided to try Kashiwagi because it's very local to us and had fantastic ratings on both Yelp and Google--and it did not disappoint! We arrived on a Friday around 6:30 PM and were surprised to find a short wait, but that's understandable given how small the restaurant is. Seating is limited, so I wouldn't recommend coming with a group larger than five or six. We ordered the salmon nigiri plate, a salmon hand roll, the scallop hand roll, and the scallop nigiri. The portions were impressively generous, and the quality of the fish was much better than we expected for the price! The chef even surprised us with an extra nigiri piece, which was such a nice touch. One small downside was that some of the rice on the nigiri fell apart as we picked up the pieces, likely because the chef was a bit rushed. However, this didn't take away from how delicious and affordable everything was. For all the sushi we ordered, we left feeling full and very happy. The service was warm and attentive, and the ambiance has a cozy, small restaurant vibe. I've never seen nigiri with such a generous cut of fish before--it's definitely worth trying if you're local or looking for a spot with quality sushi at an amazing value. We'll absolutely be returning for the convenience, affordability, and fresh flavors.

Really tasty sushi. This is the type of location you would walk right by unexpectedly, tucked right by a Plaid Pantry. It's not very large but the people working there were very nice. Felt authentic, decent tables, will be returning.

The HIGHS: - My go-tos are the sashimi plate, chirashi bowl, or the lunch sets - Fish cuts are solid quality for the price and nicely presented - chirashi bowl is a VERY good deal - Local business owned by a older Japanese couple - Small intimate setting creates a nice atmosphere The MIDS: - I wish the fish was colder, sometimes it comes out room temperature-ish - Very busy during dinner time with limited sitting The LOWS: - None :) CONCLUSION: - Lowkey hole in the wall place with solid sushi for the price with mom and pop vibes

On our 4-day visit to Portland, we were still craving more sushi, so we looked on yelp and found Kashiwagi. One of our major criteria was that every restaurant we went to had to allow dogs since we had the Princess with us. It was a perfect day for dining al fresco, not too hot, not too cold, not windy. They have three picnic style tables in front of the restaurant. Service was very good. Any questions that we had that the server did not know the answer to, she went inside and got us an answer. Our bounty included: Mentaiko Potato Salad - 3 - was okay but more of an American Potato Salad than a Japanese one. I was told that there wasn't enough Mentaiko (Pollock Roe) Kinpara - 4 - Very tasty. More sesame seeds could have upped the score to 5. Agedashi Tofu - 3 - We prefer a more robust sauce, and we missed our bonito flakes. Tempura Combo - 5 - Lightly battered and delicious! Lunch Combo C - 4 - A wonderful selection nigiri and your choice of one of three rolls to choose from (3 pieces). The cuts of fish were generous and delicious. I would have enjoyed it even more if the rice had been half the size with the same size fish. One thing that I noticed was the rice kept falling apart. Hamachi Kama - 4 - Usually broiled, this one appeared to be deep fried. It was clean and tasty though, without an abundance of oil. Usually served with a ponzu/soy sauce, this one was served naked but it was very good. Saba Ginger Roll - 4 - Saba is not my kind of fish but it was given a good score. Plenty of mackerel and the right amount of vinegar add flavor but not be overwhelming. Japanese Veggie Roll - 5 - Excellent flavors and execution. Ika Nigiri - 5 - Great texture and flavor. Ikura - 4 - For whatever reason, the Ikura didn't have as much flavor as we had expected. Overall, this was an excellent meal and we would definitely return in the future.

This place is a vibe. Gets crowded for dinner. It so good. the fish slices were HUGE! Look at the salmon ones. AND it's incredibly affordable, especially in this day and age where everything feels so expensive. The 12 piece was filling and just around $15. And that chirashi bowl, jammed packed with fish and below is a ton of rice!!!! They serve asahi, which is just the right kind of beer to go with this meal. This is a sweet mom and pop shop. Seriously a hidden gem.

Kashiwagi is a hole in the wall tucked away in a corner from the bustling streets (division st haha). It is true hidden gem for sushi enthusiasts. When I'm craving sushi but don't want to spend a lot of money, this is my go to spot. I've been here many times and each visit reaffirms their commitment to freshness and quality. The price is amazing for the amount of food you get. We always end up ordering too much with leftovers to take home. I recommend their chirashi bowl and negi hama roll. Rice is well seasoned and fish is always fresh. They also have daily specials. Not pictured but we had their hamachi Kama and it was crunchy on the inside and moist on the inside. Sometimes we wait a little while for our food but overall the service is friendly and good. The location is small with limited parking (like there's 2-3 parking spaces). It's tucked in between two busy streets but I'm sure there's more parking in the neighborhood streets

Terrible service. We asked how long the wait was they said 30 minutes but didn't take any information down. We wait 20 minutes and they begin seating others in front of us. We ask again what the wait is and they repeat 25-30 minutes. Like just be honest? Don't waste our time??? Literally never coming back here just because of this. There are enough good places to eat in Portland that I don't need to come back.

The Deluxe Chirashi Bowl is a must-try. The assortment of fish is fresh and delicious, atop a bed of rice seasoned with Furikake. The portion is very generous. The service is excellent. Great for groups or dates. Indoor and outdoor seating are available. This place is quite popular. Be prepared for a worthwhile wait, especially on the weekends.

I came back for lunch and the quality is still exactly the same. The food is delicious, the owners are always smiling and kind, yet the prices are still reasonable. The place looks exactly the same with the cozy hole in the wall vibes. I definitely love the decor of little Japanese treats you can buy. Still highly recommend this place! 11/10 rating

I almost feel bad writing to his but this is my favorite sushi spot in all Portland. The portions are amazing for what you pay and the quality is up there with some of the best. This is a true authentic experience in my book and I think if you're looking for the best cost/value sushi restaurant in all Portland and the surrounding area, this is the one to beat

Service was lovely and quick. I chose to sit outside. They have a little parking lot which is nice but also nice to get takeout and order ahead! Per some other yelpers suggestions, I ordered the nigiri lunch set C - you get a choice of half a roll, too. I chose the spicy tuna (which was not a chopped situation). All in all the fish was fresh and plentiful. I was only slightly disappointed that my rice was falling apart and the outside tables were really sticky. I will be back, though - likely for takeout.

5 stars for knockout hole-in-the-wall mom and pop sushi! Sure, the bathroom may not have been rennovated in many many years, but the food here is great and hits the spot for sushi without leaving your wallet empty. The sushi rice is on point - perfectly vinegar seasoned - and that in Portland sadly seems hard to find. They have lunch special deals and different bento combos if you're not feeling sushi. When we visited, we opted for a few different orders of nigiri, a seared Saba battera, and real crab California roll. Their portions are generous, maybe leaning towards a little too much rice, but it's good stuff. We also got greedy and ordered the mentaiko potato salad which was super creamy and addictive, as well as the nimono vegetables which were just right and homey. Our server was attentive and spoke Japanese which was a plus. I can understand why this place was so busy as soon as they ordered at noon.

Affordable and delicious sushi! I usually get the uni, eel, seared salmon, & salmon nigiri. You get 3 pieces per order (although it says 2 on the menu) and they all taste amazing. One order of Uni comes with 2 pieces and it's only 8 bucks. The spicy scallop and eel hand rolls were also good, but wouldn't recommend since the seaweed was really soft/chewy. There's usually only one server in this small shop and she's great.

This is my second time at Kashiwagi, and I am still floored by how much you get and how good the sushi is for the price you pay. I didn't want to write a review after my first time here in hopes of keeping this spot a secret. The fish is so fresh and the rice to fish ratio in these nigiri is perfect. Rice is well seasoned and not overcooked, as I often find at other sushi restaurants. I ordered their lunch special sushi set c which came with 12 pieces of nigiri and 3 pieces of either a cucumber roll, salmon avocado roll, or creamy spicy tuna roll. This set was less than $20! There is both indoor and outdoor seating, but the space is pretty small so it's not great for huge parties. The parking lot is also quite small; it's shared with another store and there are only about 7-8 parking spaces. I believe there is plenty of street parking nearby though! The service here is super quick and friendly. We waited no more than 20-30 minutes for our food, even with a mostly full house. My second time here was just as enjoyable as the first! If you're in the area, be sure to check out Kashiwagi!

Just loaded the review below thinking Takehashi 2 is still open. Congratulation on this new business, and greetings from Buffalo NY. ---- We moved to Buffalo five years ago, and I and my wife used to go to this restaurant at least twice a week for our 9 years in OHSU given its proximity to OHSU. Frankly we do not miss Portland that much since we are very happy with Buffalo. Only place we miss quite a lot is this restaurant. Simply it was the best Japanese restaurant with the quality equal to other great ones 10x higher in price. The owner and his family were so graceful and always offered the very best in quality and diversity. We really miss this place and thought of the difficulty they may have gone through during the pandemic. Upon seeing this place still in business we are relieved and once again Kudos to this great place.

The food here is both fresh & reasonably priced. The staff is very friendly and service is fast. If you're looking for a quick bite this is a great option.

Tiny spot, great fresh fish, amazing staff, just a great great place to have lunch or dinner

Kashiwagi is one of the very best Portland sushi experiences. I've been coming here since it was opened. It's a "mom and pop" family business. To put it simply: Good food, good service, good experience, an amazing deal! 10/10

Quaint little Japanese restaurant in a small parking lot next to plaid pantry. There's limited parking in the front. Mostly bentos, sushi, and appetizers. I like the portions are on the smaller side so you can try different things. Reasonable prices. I came during lunchtime on the weekend and they have their lunch specials. I got their lunch special C which came with 10 pc nigiri and 3 pc sushi roll. Not lots of seating and 1 waitress for the entire small restaurant. They were nice and efficient.

I almost don't want to write this review because I kind of want to keep this place secret for my own selfish reasons. Kashiwagi is SPECTACULAR, and somehow dirt cheap at the same time. You won't find culinary works of art that are so pretty you almost don't want to eat them. You won't find a luxurious interior with fancy ambiance. You won't find fancy tableware with intricate designs. What you will find is a perfectly-sized menu that covers ALL of the bases, local and incredibly fresh ingredients, and excellent and prompt service. You'll also find picnic tables outside since the interior is tiny. I came here with one of my great friends with whom I go out for sushi, a LOT. She was also blown away with how great everything was, with how abundant portion sizes were, and how fresh and inexpensive everything is. Even without the fancy tableware and fancy decorations, I still have no idea how they can possibly have such low prices in the first place, let alone for such GREAT quality and freshness!!!! Kashiwagi honestly seems too good to be true on that front. We will definitely be back again, and can't wait to try their tempura and other offerings. They have lots of izakaya-type items on the menu as well. Particularly great were the weekly special local tuna hand rolls (two for $5.00). These were easily one of the most delicious and fresh things I've ever had. The salmon nigiri sampler was insanely great (especially the seared pieces), and an outright steal at $16 (for 12 pieces). Kashiwagi is just fantastic, a rare and precious gem that is just wonderful. I can't wait for my next trip!

Sushi was sooooo good and so fresh! Can't wait to go back here and try more. Highly recommend getting the nigiri

Japanese family run Sushi restaurant! Top notch hand made fresh sushi. We have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. You can taste the love in every bite. The service is kind and gentle. Like any amazing restaurant in Portland sometimes you will have to be patient and wait for your indulgence.

a friend had recommended this place as it was their to go sushi place. ive been there a couple times and every time i had a wonderful experience. the food was fresh, lunch menu was bang for your buck, and the staff and service was super nice!! the location is kind of a hole in the wall. they have both indoor and outdoor seating. inside has the ambiance of a mom & pop shop and outdoor seating is nice for the summer time!! cant wait to visit again!!

Small hole in the wall spot that I was lucky to stumble upon when randomly looking for sushi in the area. Amazing sushi and not too expensive, my kind of place!

What a gem! We were in the neighborhood and decided to stop by because it was close enough to where we parked. There is indoor and outdoor seating. There was a slight wait for food to come out (30-40 minutes) when we arrived, but we were not in a rush so opted to stay. So glad we stayed because the food here did not disappoint! We ordered the karage, spicy scallop hand roll, fried oyster hand roll, albacore tuna nigiri, and the salmon special (comes with 3 types of salmon nigiri). The karage was the first to come out. While it was delicious, I don't think I would get it next time because there are so many other things to try on the menu! Don't get me wrong, it is still very good. Next came the tuna albacore nigiri and two hand rolls. I loved that everything was incredibly fresh, and you could tell it was just made and brought out. Good rice to fish ratio. For the hand rolls, you can get them as regular rolls cut into 6 pieces. The final dish to arrive is the salmon special under the nigiri section. The 3 types are seared salmon, coho salmon, and salmon. Each piece melts in your mouth and all have a very distinct flavor. I highly recommend getting this if you enjoy salmon. The wait time for food was long but well worth it in my opinion because you could tell the food was individually crafted with care. You can order online as well, which can be nice if you don't want to wait in the restaurant for your food. I cannot wait to come back and try all of the other menu offerings! There is a wide variety of nigiri, sashimi, rice bowls, rolls, and bento boxes.

I've never went out and had Pilipino food but the food was surprising, good here. I really enjoyed the atmosphere be warned that reservation are the way to go here if not you might be waiting a while as this is a fairly small establishment. We sat at the bar (4 seats) and the bartender was super friendly and very entertaining. Highly recommend!

I may regret writing this review as word is spreading about this place. It is possibly the most affordable option for high quality sushi in the Portland area at the moment. Food is good, fresh and affordable. The restaurant is small so hopefully I'll still be able to come in at some point and not have to wait a long time. I usually get the Chirashi bowls but, have tried various nigiri/rolls here as well. Besides, their pickled mackarel in the Chirashi I enjoy everything here.

Small mom and pop sushi Japanese restaurant. Friendly service. Fairly priced. Large pieces of sushi, but quality/freshness varied. Takoyaki was great and simple (no toppings) with sauce on the side.

Small mom and pop sushi spot, serving some of the freshest fish in Portland. They are open for indoor dining, but very limited in space. Be prepared to wait as I said, it's a mom and pop, but you won't be disappointed. The hand rolls are my favorite! Honestly recommend ordering Togo to by pass the wait.

Such a hidden gem! Located next door to a Plaid Pantry, in a tiny shop with only a handful of tables, Kashiwagi serves up great quality sushi at crazy cheap prices. Why go to a sushi belt and spend the same or even more on rolls and nigiri/sashimi when you can come to an actual sit-down/service restaurant for the same price but get more bang for your buck both quantity and quality-wise! We got a load of things to try when we visited, including a plate of different nigiri, lots of handrolls, and a specialty and basic roll. The handrolls are the perfect size and come in a pair - we got 4 orders so 8 HRs total, and they were delicious! The nigiri pieces are also MASSIVE and thickly cut!! No complaints on anything we had. The hot tea is also amazing, and they're really good about checking in to make sure you have everything you need. This is a must-try in my book! Don't let the exterior of the restaurant deter you (I know I was a little skeptical at first seeing the folks hanging outside the Plaid). The servers and chefs are both so sweet and welcoming, and it feels great to support such a homey establishment.

I was craving a chirashi bowl and found this unassuming place next to a Plaid Pantry. The staff was super friendly, there was only one waitress and the place got packed quickly, but the service was still on point. The fish all came out tasting super fresh. I will definitely come back to this place again. Also, the price point for the freshness of the fish was phenomenal.

Delicious and great! I came on a Friday night about an hour before closing, the server was super friendly, fast and nice! I sat down at the bar while I waited for my order, it is definitely on the smaller size for an establishment- so if you want to try their HUGE delicious portions you need to come by! Will be back again!

OK, we decided to give Kashiwagi another go ... and it was terrific! We tried the 12-piece nigiri, an eel roll, and a salmon skin hand roll. All were fresh and wonderful. We place the order to go from the website, which was straightforward and easy. Highly recommended.

Great service, great food and a great price. Nothing beats the triple g. Seats are limited though.

Ordered takeout for a birthday dinner & everyone was very impressed. Very good quantity, quality, and an extra roll thrown in! Super reasonable prices as well. I ordered the poke rice as my main, and was super happy with it. The avocado was especially good. Karage chicken was also great. Will definitely be adding this as one of our regular spots.

THE BEST SUSHI! got there 20 mins before closing and they took us in on a busy Saturday night, on August 5, 2023. The waitress was EXCELLENT pleasant, easy to get along, explained the food very well, told her we were from the Bay Area and we were spoiled with good Japanese food and theirs was SUPERIOR! Miso soup was delicious the sushi was HUGHE! everything was fresh and delicious! I give this place a 10+, Ambience was good! and VERY AFFORDABLE!

So glad the folks from Takahashi 2 are back in business! The hand rolls are amazing and everything is always super fresh!

I love the ambiance and owners of this little place! Very reasonable and a great little lunch place.

I was so excited to learn about their soft opening! I ordered online from their website and had no issues with pick up. Everything tasted very fresh and was well packed. My favorite thing was the Saba Shioyaki bento. It's the perfect meal, complete with fun & delicious sides. There were so many side options to choose from but I went with the Ohitashi & Nukazuke. No regrets but I am curious about the Mac salad.. The Salmon Special nigiri was delightful! I would get that again too! It's 8 pieces assorted Salmon, Coho, Seared. Mmm I'm getting hungry again. The Chirashi bowl was beautiful. If you don't like things "too fishy" this is not for you. I like the variety and is it's well priced! Last, I had to try a side of their Agedashi Tofu. So good! I was late picking up and it was still good! The sauce is packed separately, phew! This was a lot of food for two people. Two very happy and satisfied people who will be back quite soon. The space is cute & modest. I hope to get to dine there one day when it's safe to. They also sell some pantry items!

Like I have written in past reviews... always find the BEST restaurants in small strip malls. Kashiwagi is no different Yelpers... definitely a hidden gem and the sushi is great. Mom and Pop owned and always service with a smile. I highly recommend this sushi spot to any and all who are in the area. So let it be written... So let it be EATEN.

First time in Portland and decided to have sushi for dinner. This place looked good, especially with all 5 star reviews. This place was horrible. Took over an hour to get food and there were multiple hairs in the sushi rolls! The customer service was all horrible. The kitchen looked like a mess and only one person was cooking all the food. Also the interior of the place was dirty. People who arrived after us got their food first. Would truly not recommend going to this place.

Delightful family-run small sushi cafe. Very fresh fish, good lunch prices, lovely service. Definitely worth a visit.

A cute hole in the wall, this sushi was reasonably priced and so so good. The portion sizes are on the large size and the quality is great. Next time I think I would order takeout to go so I could enjoy it in the comfort of my home!