Nodoguro

"Over the past 10 years, this ultra-popular, super-creative omakase has hopscotched  all over Portland, and, in early 2025, will have a new home in the downtown area. Nodoguro’s ephemeral tasting menus have taken inspiration from Japanese record bars, pop culture, Spanish culinary traditions, and seasonal Oregon vegetables, with additional one-off events like sake dinners and handroll nights. Any given visit may involve sake and seaweed-steamed abalone, katsuobushi-scented jellied broth over Dungeness, and miso butter cookies. The ticket price typically clocks in at $250, and reservations can be hard to nab; throw your name on the waiting list if you’re set on visiting on a particular date. For a more affordable price point, owners Ryan and Elena Roadhouse plan to keep the Kerns location open as Peter Cat, a Japanese listening-bar concept izakaya with 9-course menus for $150." - Zoe Baillargeon

"A Portland-based restaurant recognized for its unique and high-quality dining experience, led by chef Ryan Roadhouse." - Erin DeJesus

"This ultra-popular, super-creative omakase just celebrated its 10-year anniversary, after popping up in various locations all over Portland. Nodoguro’s ephemeral tasting menus have taken inspiration from Japanese record bars, pop culture, Spanish culinary traditions, and seasonal Oregon vegetables, with additional one-off events like sake dinners and handroll nights. Any given visit may involve sake and seaweed-steamed abalone, katsuobushi-scented jellied broth over Dungeness, and miso butter cookies. The ticket price typically clocks in at $250, and reservations can be hard to nab; throw your name on the waiting list if you’re set on visiting on a particular date." - Seiji Nanbu, Janey Wong

"This Kerns omakase is likely Portland’s most expensive tasting menu at $250 per person, but those willing to shell out the big bucks will be rewarded with around 20 courses of everything from chanterelle dashi to uni miso butter rice to firefly squid with pickled shiitake mushrooms. Menus are highly conceptual and change often; they’re teased on Instagram, pulling inspiration from seasons, places, poetry, art. Let’s put it this way: If Questlove is coming to Portland, he’s getting a reservation at Nodoguro." - Michelle Lopez, Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"The maximalist omakase adored by people like Questlove is back, and chef Ryan Roadhouse is scooping consomme gel into bowls of marinated Dungeness crab and fermented yuzu-compressed cucumber, or poaching firefly squid before tossing them in an effervescent egg yolk emulsion, or frying fresh figs in the style of agedashi tofu in Portland once again. Nodoguro dinners are an adventure, often involving more than 20 courses of both sushi and other Japanese-Pacific Northwestern dishes. Tasting menus are $250 per person; reservations can be tough to get, but we have tips for you here." - Eater Staff