Miyake

I ordered the omakase sushi, and I’m grateful to be able to enjoy sushi of this level in the U.S. The downside is that the portions were on the smaller side, and the shrimp tempura was terrible. It seemed like they had no understanding of authentic Japanese tempura, which was surprising for such a high-end Japanese restaurant.

Miyake has been on my to-visit list for more than a year and I finally had a chance to dine there last night. However, the overall experience was not as good as I expected. I ordered Omakase nigiri and firefly squid tempura - one of the daily special dishes. Nigiris were generally good. The uni and o toro were amazing. The firefly squid tempura was, to be honest, very disappointing because: 1. The dish was not hot or crispy (see the photo below - it was white). It might be pre-fried and was sitting on the counter for a while. 2. Only half of the tempura had squids. The other half was only soft batter that was probably not fully-cooked. Not sure what happened in the kitchen, but I hope that Miyake can pay attention to this.

Very high quality sushi and service. The inside has a super clean traditional Japanese aesthetic. The dish that really blew us away was the duck nikuman buns —truly one of the most finely crafted dishes that has ever graced our palates. What ever you do, do not miss out on this one.

This restaurant left my partner and I speechless because we couldn’t process how amazing our experience was. The service was attentive and perfectly timed. The food/cocktails were packed full of flavor. Everything is made to order, fresh, in an open kitchen so some food items will not be delivered to the table at once, but everything is worth the wait. The experience of dining here is truly one of a kind. If I could leave more than 5 stars on this review, I would. The only thing I observed is that making a reservation is key (even though they leave some space for walk-ins) because the restaurant has limited space.

This was our first time and unfortunately our last time. The host/server and location were wonderful. The drinks were great. But the food was not what we expected. The lobster nigiri was raw though it was stated to be cooked. And the special smelled very fishy. Our shrimp tempura starters were not crispy/undercooked. I hope this was just an off night, but it seems the kitchen is trying very hard to be unique and missing the mark.

Y’all. The tuna in the bento box was some of the best fish I’ve ever had. Sam was a great waiter and very informative. We got the Spicy Lobster roll and the Salmon Lady II roll. With the bento box, we got a miso soup that my mother exclaimed was the greatest she’d ever had.

One of the best sushi restaurants in Portland Maine! Decided to check this place out with my husband during our visit and thoroughly enjoyed their sushi amongst all other food :) server was also very generous and made our date night special. We were also sitting by the sushi counter, which was entertaining to watch the chefs in action! Overall, would definitely come back here again and try some of their other menu items during our next visit in town.

Beautiful restaurant in Portland with delicious and thoughtfully crafted Japanese food. My fiancé had the sashimi and it was delicious. The duck buns were out of this world, as were the scallops with celeriac purée. The service was excellent, knowledgeable about the food and drink options and checking in, but not hovering. Thanks for an incredible meal!

Not bad for east coast sushi. We were seated at the bar, it's a pretty small restaurant. Unfortunately, we were on the end of the bar, near the window, so farthest away from any servers or bartenders. Service was ok, nothing super special. But the sushi was fresh and they had good options for traditional types of nigiri or other makis and appetizer dishes. All the food was tasty and I enjoyed the sushi, the prices were pretty typical for what I've seen here on the east coast.

For anyone who hasn't been here before, you would think that Miyake is fine. For those who've been in previous iterations (i.e. 2000-2010s) this is a shell of its prior self. No bones to pick about the food, but, if Miyake is going to charge the price that it is currently charging (we made a reservation 30-days before for our scheduled dinner), there's no reason why one should have to wait 45 minutes before the first served dish. Food was fine, but the customer attention and service was lacking. Concierge staff was lame and, as we waited for our service. Food was average. Service was mediocre. My wife and I were original patrons to Masa-san's original establishment when it was near State Street. We followed the growth when his restaurant moved closer to downtown Portland (where it is currently located and has been remodeled). Suffice it to say that we will not be back and will advise others to think about other options. Disappointing experience.

Yes on the food. Yes on the cocktails. The service was very good. And the ambiance of a bustling city sushi place really finished it. We enjoyed our meal and would definitely go back.

Beautiful intimate sushi restaurant with relatively streamlined menu. Very attentive to our dietary restrictions. Delicious fresh sushi. Though we didn't get one, the bento boxes looked particularly gorgeous. A little pricey.

We visited here for my partner's birthday and were completely blown away by this restaurant. We reserved a table in advance at the sushi counter, which was such a unique and intimate experience. You could sit back and watch the 3 sushi chefs as they crafted delicious meals and it was just obvious from watching them how much effort they poured into each dish. I will say... this place is very expensive. They also apparently recently changed up their omakase menu, so we were a bit disappointed that we couldn't try a bunch of small plates mixed with sashimi. Instead, we ordered a few different plates so we could still get a decent variety of food. We ordered the duck buns, which were absolutely delicious and decadent. The flavors paired so well together and I wish I could replicate this recipe at home because it's just that good. We then got a waygu dish which came in a pot mixed with some veggies and tofu. This dish was probably the least impressive looking, but the taste was absolutely delicious and probably my favorite of the night. We also ordered a toro sushi roll (because why not) which was also tasty but I probably would order something a bit more flavorful next time. Then, we ended the night with the sashimi omakase set which was unreal. The sheer amount of fish on this plate was crazy and the presentation was excellent. Our waitress kindly told us what each type of fish was and I can honestly say we enjoyed each one. My favorite was probably the uni just because it literally melted in your mouth, it was so fresh and buttery. I'd highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a higher end romantic date night in the Portland area! It's definitely a dining experience we won't forget.

By far the best high-end Japanese restaurant in Portland (and dare I say Maine!), Miyake offers an upscale dining experience for those with a refined palette and a love of world-class sushi. Although dining at Miyake will cost you a pretty penny, it's worth every cent. The quality of the fish and inventiveness of the dishes are next level. I thoroughly enjoyed the lobster egg drop soup, nasu nibi tashi (an eggplant dish), and chirashi (pictured below). Anything omakase (chef's choice) is a must! Excellent service, quiet ambience, 5/5!

Fantastic sushi. Service was outstanding. Small and cozy setting. Great cocktails. Street parking. Make a reservation!

One of the best sushi restaurants in Portland Maine! Decided to check this place out with my husband during our visit and thoroughly enjoyed their sushi amongst all other food :) server was also very generous and made our date night special. We were also sitting by the sushi counter, which was entertaining to watch the chefs in action! Overall, would definitely come back here again and try some of their other menu items during our next visit in town.

Quick update: I highly recommend Miyake as a place to stop in for lunch, too! It's a quieter vibe than dinner, so perfect for grabbing a seat at the sushi bar. There are bento box lunch specials and chef's choice sushi and sashimi, or you can order rolls from the lunch menu; I had a wonderful red snapper ceviche roll and of course, their wonderful miso soup!

Recommended for superb sushi. Dined January 4, around 5:30pm. We tried and enjoyed tsukemono pickles, nasu nibi tashi braised eggplant, watercress salad (brilliant) from the small plates menu. Next up we enjoyed duck nikuman buns & sauteed scallops. From the sushi menu we had the Super Toro Roll (tuna/cucumber/toro), Salmon Lady, ceviche (snapper/cilantro/truffle oil/shiso), Saba Gari (pickled mackerel/ginger/tobiko flying fish roe/battera kombu). Also, one person had the omakase sashimi platter with 10 chef's choice sashimi. Each piece was flawless, even the Sapporo draft was really good, other drafts & many sakes available too. We ate heartily, $400-ish for five of us. This is not a good spot for small children. We brought one & I know he was welcome, but there are better places for young children.

I eat a lot of sushi...more than a person needs honestly. This was my first time dining at Miyake, and I can confidently say that this my favorite sushi spot in Portland, Maine! First off, try to make reservations as early as you can. We got lucky with a last minute reservation, but this is a small, intimate dining room. There are tables and bar seats available, and I highly recommend the bar seating so you can watch the sushi chefs at work. Secondly, all of the food is incredible. When we asked our server for tips on the menu, we were impressed when she basically named everything they serve. It turns out she was completely right. We shared the super toro roll, saba gari roll, duck nikuman buns, and a bottle of orion lager. This was the perfect amount of food for two hungry people. More importantly, the quality of the food went above and beyond other sushi spots in the area (even my other favorite restaurants). Each roll looked beautiful and my picture does not do it justice. They were beautifully plated and I enjoyed every bite of both rolls. I also cannot speak highly enough of the duck buns. They were savory and warm, making them a start to our dinner on a chilly day. Miyake is incredible and I only wish I had known about this place sooner. If you're on the fence about coming here, just come try it out for yourself.

Yum! I can't wait to go back! I wandered in (based on yelpers, so thank you!) and got a seat at the bar. DEFINITELY get the Ceviche Roll! So, so good! If I lived any closer, I would be a regular (as the two guys next to me clearly were). Meantime, do yourself a favor and go! I will live vicariously! :)

Sat at the sushi bar, had an amazing meal and enjoyed interacting with the sushi chefs! 10/10 best sushi I've ever had! Will definitely be back!

Newly remodeled and better than ever! Gone is the prior sterile environment replaced with plentiful warm wood and expansive counter seating. Whether around the bar or the chefs counter there is plenty of activity to watch as you wait for your delights to arrive. Truly joyful food whether the wonderful creamy uni combined beautifully with mascarpone or the out of this world hmayaki with its lobster crab and scallop! Wow,truly! Of course the sushi is wonderful, I recommend letting the chef choose for an amazingly diverse range of fully flavored bites! Also the wagyu bowl with mushrooms and egg for dipping was full of wow! Such wonderful savory tenderness! Meltingly good! So happy to see this amazing spot re-open and it's creative,kindly farmer,chef at the helm.

Wow. Miyake is beyond words! I am almost ashamed to say I have lived in Portland so long and never checked out this spot. The atmosphere was sleek and minimalistic, we sat at the bar and I had a delicious mint and lavender mocktail. The bar has two levels, so our waiter would place our next dish above, so we could reach for it whenever, without having a cluttered dining area. we got a tuna appetizer, the super toro roll (melt in your mouth!), the Maine crab roll (torched to perfection!) and by far my favorite dish was their special - broiled sea urchin on sushi rice with eel sauce and Japanese mayo. It was one of the most incredible things I've eaten in a while, delectable Uni prepared just right. I loved this place, and can't wait to go back!

Make reservation ahead because the restaurant is a small seating restaurant. They just reopened on December 1st, 2022 after closed for few years. Simple tight menus so easy to navigate. I will recommend the omakashe hashun ( appetizers) $35 for a bunch of small apps that super tasty. The winner is the duck. Yummy and juicy I ordered Saba gari roll. Totally recommended. The roll size is generous so 1 roll is actually quite filling not like many other Japanese restaurant in portland who serve skinny roll and charged like crazy. Between omakase sushi or sashimi, I will definitely go for sashimi. It's obviously cost more but since it come in 2 Pcs or 3 pcs ( u can upgrade for more $$$) u can share with friends while obviously u can't share the sushi The Kamameshi is the weakest point from the meal that I ordered. The rice need to be slightly more crispy but it's not much an issue

Amazing meal- probably the best sushi I have ever had. I had the nigiri sushi and soba noodles. It is pricey but worth it.

Incredibly good Sushi. Very fresh, creative take on sushi rolls. Lobster tempura was so good.

I have been to Miyake way back in the day (2017?) but not since they reopened in 2022 post-Covid. The menu is small but packed with bag flavors and fresh ingredients. This is not your run of the mill sushi restaurant. There are only about 6 or 7 rolls that they offer, but that's because the star here is really the sashimi and nigiri. I highly recommend one of their omakase experiences or the sashimi set (chef's choice of 3 pieces of 3 types of fish). Our sashimi set came with maguro, king salmon and amberjack and all three fish were melt in your mouth, buttery delicious. Tip: whenever you get sashimi (here or anywhere) ask for ponzu sauce. It is a lighter, slightly sweeter version of soy sauce and is very mild which really allows the fish to shine through. Tonight's special was an amazing broiled Uni dish. The duck buns are NOT to be missed...holy smokes those were good. Also I wish I could remember the name of the sake we had but it was the best. The service is wonderful and the limited seats makes for a more intimate setting. I definitely recommend sitting at the chef's counter.

We had Miyake last week and I'm so glad we were able to get a table. I haven't been here since pre-pandemic and the restaurant changed a lot! BUT it's still as amazing as it used to be. The menu is entirely different and I loved all the shared plates. You can't go wrong with any choices in their menu. Their team was super friendly, attentive, and was enthusiastic about all our choices it makes you feel good to have a hype-woman encouraging you for the things you picked! Thank you Miyake Team!

Absolutely amazing evening! Perfection from start to finish. The staff is excellent- Mika, you are amazing at guiding customers thru the menu and dining experience. Chef, you and your staff provide the ultimate in culinary presentation and delivery. Food was exquisite!!! You simply will not find an equal in Portland or beyond. Thank you for an unforgettable dinner!

Miyake continues to provide the best sushi in the terms of quality, freshness and appearance. I'm a little disappointed to see the omakasi migrate from a mixed protein to sashimi only, but it was still great! A must stop for anyone visiting Portland.

After moving away from Los Angeles 18 months ago to settle in Chicago, the only thing I / we miss (other than our friends) is Japanese food, in particular sushi. Sure Chicago has this cuisine, but it's very expensive and portions are minuscule. We were used to Ventura Blvd.'s uncountable number of Japanese restaurants dotting the landscape from Studio City to Calabasis that is affordable and ample. Yes, we were spoiled! When we saw our hotel here in Portland, Maine had this type of restaurant in the building, we were cautious but elated. A dinner reservation at Miyake is almost impossible to get, but we walked in today at lunch and we were seated at the "A" chairs at the sushi bar. Their menu was spectacular and the fish coming out of the bar and kitchen was beautiful. This was a huge sigh of relief! I ordered their Bento Box and each and every square (all six of them) had something amazing in them. Eel, a variety of sashimi's, miso soup, noodles with beef, shrimp tempura, and other goodies. My wife had their prix fix sushi lunch and she was in heaven. This was top notch food with a top staff, meaning this is 5 Star top notch restaurant!

Quality fresh seafood at super reasonable prices. They bring out all the pieces at once for the omakase options even if you sit at the bar. The watercress salad was good and there are lots of wonderful small plates (which we didn't get this time) to enhance the nigiri. Coming from NYC, prices were especially reasonable and service was quick and friendly.

Just okay. Not special. The waiters were attentive. A small notch above average. I had the impression that it is a high end restaurant but is not. I like my drink, a yuzu concoction. Relatively easy to get a parking spot nearby.

Really all we can say is, "so very happy he is back!" Still best sushi on east coast. Omakase is not just sashimi or nigiri but also "small plates" in a bento box-like presentation. Used to be considered expensive but now it's same price as all the other fine restaurants. Nice selection of veggie dishes less than $10. The broiled lobster or Maine crab rolls are total umami heaven.

Food was excellent. Great presentation and taste. The ceviche roll tasted exactly like I would have imagined and was perfect. Lobster roll was great as well. Highly recommended. Limited seats.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, I would frequent this place for lunch on numerous occasions, indulging in its delectable offerings. The impeccable quality of the fish is truly commendable, leaving us in awe. Among the array of tantalizing small plates, one particular standout was the remarkable Wagyu Beef soup dish, which we savored with immense delight. Moreover, on that particular day, the flavor of the Uni was exceptionally exquisite, leaving an unforgettable impression on our taste buds.

Visited the redesigned Miyake. It's beautiful and contemporary. Sit at the bar (it's where all the action is!) Miyake was there. Great fun! Amazing food. Fun mock tail selection. Sawagani (Japanese fresh water crab) special was so cool!!! Amazing dining experience. We tried the Hamayaki due to the rave reviews. It was for sure a flavor bomb but I wouldn't eat it again. Scallops, nigiri and sushi rolls were phenomenal. Expensive but worth it for a fun date night. Reservations recommended but they do leave. A few seats open for walk ins.

Had really high hopes for this place as I love sushi. Service was wonderful. Unfortunately the nigiri set was incredibly fishy, except for the uni. The fish did not taste fresh. The app was delicious.

If you are a fan of Japanese food and sushi, you will love Miyake. If you are on the fence, you may not. The food is spectacular. The serving size is small. The prices are high. The service is inviting and deliberate. We live in the Portland area and if any of our out of town friends were looking for this type or restaurant, Miyake would be near the top. But if they were in town for a few days looking to sample a few of Portland's best, Miyake is in my view not on that list.

Food was fantastic. Small setup with a great ambiance. Our server was amazing. Best sushi I've ever had! Highly recommend getting a reservation and planning ahead for this one.

The 3 of us each enjoyed the Omakase menu. 10 beautiful pieces of sushi. The meal was delicious and the service amazing. Thank you.

Came here with the grandkids when we were in Portland for the weekend. Kids were craving Sushi. Fish and sushi was excellent and fresh. Options besides sushi was good. It was expensive though. Service was okay. Ambiance was nice.

Good but I would not got back. Felt like I was eating in an office; quiet, uptight with all the servers whispering and not at all welcoming. We were in for a casual bite and maybe not their ideal customer? Also - pricey! 1 shared plate, 1 roll and 2 cocktails was over $80. Not worth it for the dinner experience- maybe lunch is a more laid back vibe.

Average and Rigid. Quality of the fish wasn't great. Anything not posted on the menu is completely not an option. Example with the Ebi is there was no option to get the fried shrimp head. The Omakase leaves nothing to the chef's creativity and is just presentation of their posted menu.

I came here for lunch and had the $21 lunch bento special. For the quality of food, this was such a deal!! I came solo and sat at the sushi bar, and I loved watching the chefs work. The bento came with 6 different bites: a refreshing salad, grilled mackerel, a sashimi sampler, 2 pieces of a roll, pork dumplings, and tempura. It was so delicious and my server was super nice. I like to try places on the pricier side for lunch first before I take the plunge for dinner. Next stop is the dinner tasting!

Cute little place. Super limited menu and very spendy. We have been spoiled by California sushi bars. I do not think we will go back.

Great food and great service! Wonderful for a date night or any night. I recommend if you want great drinks and amazing sushi you come give them a try

For years I avoided going to Miyake because all I heard about it was the high, high prices. Then one day I was looking at their website and discovered their lunch menu - much more affordable! My favorite splurge lunch in Portland is the bento box from Miyake. An upscale, larger version of the ubiquitous Japanese lunch. For around $21 you get a sampling of six different daily specials and a side of miso soup. There is usually some sashimi, a salad, something hot, a roll, etc. It really is a great value for the quality and quantity. I eat a lot and it is more than enough for me (something I don't often say about Japanese food). If you don't like the surprise aspect of the bento box (ummm...but who doesn't like surprises?!), they also have an a la carte lunch menu. After being lured in by their amazing lunches, I finally tried the chef's menu for dinner. With how prices have been in Portland the last few years, the tasting menu at Miyake (4-courses for $58) no longer seems expensive. At Miyake, the tasting menu is not completely blind, you are given a choice from a few selections and then are surprised by various amuse-bouche throughout the tasting. Everything I had was wonderful, though a bit rich, and I would highly recommend it to those looking for a tasting menu in Portland. When all is said and done, I love Miyake best for lunch. It is quiet, more affordable, friendly and delicious. What more can you ask for?!

This is one of the dumbest reviews I've ever posted. This restaurant is so good all this review will do is make it harder for me to get a reservation. This is the first time I've been back since they reopened. Honestly, (and I can't believe I'm saying this) it's even better than it was before Covid. Thanks

This place is a solid 4.5 stars. I have to deduct a 1/2 star because when my gf and i showed up to order the sushi/sashimi omakase, they weren't offering it that day. The kaiseki omakase is a solid alternative. We also opted for the sake pairing, which provides a "shot" of sake with every course. Our Kaiseki omakase ended up being 7 courses. 1st: uni with cheese - decadent and earthy and stick to your ribs feel. 2nd: assorted sashimi - very fresh pieces with a slightly poached lobster that was the star 3rd: silky egg custard with crab meat inside and a gingko nut, topped off with gold flakes. So silky it put baby food to shame 4th: slightly torched arctic char and tako (octopus). The octopus was grilled to perfection with a nice pleasant texture. It wasn't chewy. The arctic char had a crispy skin and a raw piece of fish that was just a pleasant balance. 5th: tempura fried salt water eel - delectable. The tempure was airy and crispy. 6th: seared duck breast - heavy and decadent and rich. The berries were there to cut the richness of the duck 7th: assorted nigiri - chutoro for the win We added an 8th of extra nigiri - they didn't have the otoro but we did get the foie gras nigiri which is solid. It really melts in your mouth. For dessert, we ordered the green tea tiramisu. The taste of the matcha powder had a hint of cannabis? but maybe because the green tea was so concentrated? I'm not sure. The server was attentive always refilling my water glass and she was knowledgeable of the sakes. Will def be back and perhaps next time sit at the counter.

Maaaaaaaaaannnnnnn oh maaaaaannnnnn this place is delicious. I very much enjoyed our tasting menu... This made my belly super happy. The ambiance is really nice and I found that it was quiet and comforting. The waitress was super attentive and described all the courses in detail. I believe it's 6 courses. Forgive me for not getting pics of everything. One of the things I had was an uni sashimi in the shell. I normally am not a huge fan of uni but this was so dang good. So creamy and fresh. We also has a course of a hot tofu pudding with miso and crab... Dang. So yummy and warm for a cold day. One of my favorites was the duck. This was cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. Loved the briny peppercorns and the plum sauce that was with it. The Japanese style potato salad was also nice a refreshing. Highly recommend the tasting menu. It did not disappoint. :)

Best and freshest sushi ever we've ever tasted! The place is located in downtown Portland Maine on Fore St & Union. Bar none the best and so goes the higher than most prices BUT for the quality and sushi/sashimi grade well worth every $$$! Best way to get the best experience is to get the 4 course for $60 to start you will appreciate once you concluded the experience. The only sour grapes O had was missing out on ordering sashimi. The servers are super friendly and professional! I will keep this short but I would come back here again next time i'm in town for sure!

We found this place on Yelp. Its pretty pricey and you need reservations. We we're able to get last minute reservation right when they opened. We had 15 minutes to get to the place but we made it. The place is small but look nice. They staff was welcoming and we'll informed. The sushi chefs were from Japan. We got the omakase the $78 one and the $45 nigiri one with just raw sushi. Every was small, but full of flavor. My person favorite was the grilled sea uni, foie gras nigiri. Everything was perfect definitely want to come back

How did I just discover this place did lunch?!?! Have been here for dinner before and its always phenomenal. Lunch is the best kept secret of this place though. There are a few things I love on the dinner menu that you cant get at lunch (fish specials, duck!!!!!) but the bento box is unbelievable. Having been here multiple times for lunch now, the bento box is always different and never disappointing. We also order the pick two from the menu and split everything. The rolls are irresistible and we usually get that on top of the two meals, which is A LOT of food. Favorite dishes are the hamayaki, tuna Toro roll, ceviche roll, and lobster roll (sushi, not sandwich). Earlier this winter we were able to just walk in on a Saturday but summer has proven the need for reservations.

We started our visit in Portland with dinner at lovely Miyake. The service was great and the food was delicious. This is a must go place if you visit Portland!

Miyake gets high marks for fresh quality sushi and interesting flavors. Their bento box has a wide selection from sashimi to broccoli rabe. I enjoyed the sashimi and the lobster spring roll. The broccoli and the salmon sashimi were okay and I really didn't like the cold chicken and the fried Arctic char roll. Overall i think I'll be back but will plan on ordering rolls of salmon or tuna which were clearly high quality and delicious.

Let me start off by saying... It's always a pleasure going here! I am always greeted nicely, and promptly seated. Whenever my boyfriend and I go here, we order the tei shoku! What is out inside rotates, which is awesome! The service is always awesome, and the service is always prompt! The food is always fresh and amazing too! I really can't think of any negative thing a to say about this place, besides the fact that I don't have this place in my home town!! (Sad face!) I highly recommend this place to anyone seeking freakishly fresh food, good service, and nice natural light (during the day!). I wish i could get a box of food shipped to me! That's how good it is!! I honestly cannot wait to go back and eat the next box, and enjoy the moments I spend here!! Five stars! (: