Murata Restaurant

"For decades, downtown workers have popped into this old-school Japanese restaurant for combination lunches of broiled salmon, tonkatsu, or sashimi, complete with sunomono, steamed rice, and miso soup. On cold days, Murata’s tempura-topped udon is straight-up comfort food. For a business lunch, reserve one of the restaurant’s tatami rooms for both privacy and comfort." - Paolo Bicchieri

"Since 1988, Portlanders have stepped into Murata’s tatami rooms for dinners of miso soup, tonkatsu, and broiled mackerel, pots of soothing zosui filled with ribbons of egg, chirashi sporting generous slices of salmon and scallop. Murata is old-school in the best way, a style of Japanese restaurant becoming rarer and rarer with time; sitting in its dining room, mulling over crispy tempura or chicken teriyaki, induces a reinvigorating nostalgia hard to find elsewhere." - Eater Staff

"This little traditional Japanese mainstay can be found right across from the Keller Auditorium, serving everything from Japanese hotpot dishes to house-cured mackerel. Murata’s greatest strengths lie in the sushi sets and fish selection, allowing diners to either hand over control to the chef or pick their favorites a la carte. Keep an eye on the specials board, which will offer the best seasonal offerings on any given visit." - Seiji Nanbu, Janey Wong

"Murata has held its spot on Market Street since 1988, the epitome of an old-school Japanese restaurant in the best way. Devotees nab open tatami rooms where they tuck into homey orders of broiled mackerel or ochazuke. The real highlight at Murata, however, has to be its sushi — the restaurant’s set dinners, chef’s choice combinations preceded by miso and small snacks, epitomize why the restaurant has survived the last 30-plus years. Keep an eye on the specials board, as well." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff

"This little traditional Japanese mainstay can be found right across from the Keller Auditorium, serving everything from Japanese hotpot dishes to house-cured mackerel. Murata’s greatest strengths lie in the sushi sets and fish selection, allowing diners to either hand over control to the chef or pick their favorites a la carte. Keep an eye on the specials board, which will offer the best seasonal offerings on any given visit." - Seiji Nanbu, Janey Wong