Wa Kitchen Kuu

This place is a great find! We went out of our way to visit this place and it was absolutely worth the thirty min of traffic we were stuck in to get there! First off, cute place - well designed and has a good vibe. Really friendly staff too. At first, we got the veggie gyoza, veggie roll and rotating lunch special which had the salmon. Everything was perfectly prepared and there's not a bad thing to say about any of it. The veggie gyoza was crispy and not greasy and just little bites of deliciousness. The veggie roll was fresh and I loved the addition of herbs on top of the avocado and cucumber. We were still a little peckish after that, so we got the spicy salmon roll and the yodare tofu. The husband pronounced the spicy salmon roll as perfection but the real winner of the entire meal was the tofu eggplant dish. Beautifully seared and yet soft alternating slices of eggplant and tofu immersed in the best sauce on the planet and topped with fresh herbs and green onions. This is a dish that I will continue to dream about and hopelessly try to recreate. Every bite of that dish was worth sitting in thirty min of traffic for and that's the highest praise I can think of! I love that this place has so many vegetarian options (there is a veggie option almost in each category) and those options include something as epic as the yodare tofu. A lot of places do not put effort into their vegetarian options, so hats off to the insanely talented chef who created this! 11/10 would visit again and order two plates of that eggplant tofu.

Service was good. Ordered the octopus jerky and it was served to me within 3 mins and tasted spoiled. Ordered miso soup and it came luke warm like it had been sitting out. Being fearful but hopeful I ordered something "safe" and went for a California roll in which couldn't stomach the first bite. It was warm, rice was old, and tasted like cross contamination with something else. I ended up getting sick outside the establishment and would never stop by again. Don't get any fresh fish here I regret not getting a rice dish or something cooked. Update I ended up getting really sick from this restaurant and experienced the worst food poisoning I've ever had.

The restaurant was nice, cozy, and service was great! Portions were very generous for the udon! Very filling and delicious in flavor... however, I can't say the same about the sushi rolls. They were a lot tinier than what I was expecting (6 small pieces per roll) and the price was outrageous for the portion... $16?!!! If you do the math, that's $2.67 per bite. Yikes . Anyways, if I were to come here again, I would 100% go for the tempera udon! 4/5

We really appreciated the top notch service and delicious food at this small, cozy restaurant.

I'm an udon soup lover, I would choose udon soup over ramen any day! I was so glad I found this place on our last day in Portland. I was overwhelmed by all the options mainly because I wanted to try them all! Ended up choosing ebiten shio. I was expecting a noodle soup, but it came out as a brothless udon where you mix it with a little sauce at the bottom, which was disappointing because I'm a soup person, HOWEVER.... the flavor was sooo good, I was a little less disappointed and ate it all! Would definitely come back and order it again but with a side soup. Paid street parking is on a busy street, just FYI.

The secret is out as it was packed during lunch on a Wednesday. Best place for Japanese in Portland.

OMG a Japanese restaurant that isn't a ramen or sushi restaurant! (They have some sushi but I wouldn't call them a sushi spot). After a brief look at the menu we decided kitchen over sushi was the way to go. The style here seems to be kind of home-style cooking, Japanese comfort food focusing on udon & steamed donburis. We tried the Kama-Age udon special w/ Hokkai miso broth which was like a hearty seafood broth. The noodles and toppings are served on the side so you can garnish as you go. We got the Kama-tama egg option (soy soft-boiled egg) as well which made it even more savory. We also got the Kama-meshi specialty rice w/ seafood but be warned this one does take longer to prepare. The dessert was fun too, it was those puffy fish-shaped bread stuffed w/ red bean paste & served w/ green tea ice cream. We really enjoyed both, there wasn't anything that new or wild flavor wise, just mild and comforting and tasty. The inside is pretty cool, kind of modern clean old-style wood decor.

One of my favorite places to eat in Portland, which is unsurprising because I LOVE udon. I was in town to attend a conference and ended up eating here for dinner 2 of the 3 nights I was in town since it was across the street from my hotel. This place surpassed my expectations serving up a hot delicious bowl of udon for both visits. They have a sushi bar area as well as tables and a traditional seating area for larger groups. Although it was busy both nights, I was quickly sat at the sushi bar. Service can be slow since it was busy but I didn't really mind since I was excited to eat. They have a mix of hot and cold udon on their menu along with a variety of appetizers to choose from. I ordered the tempura and hokkai-miso udon. The traditional broth here that they used for most of their udon is a dark soy and it was definitely super tasty without being too salty. I definitely am obsessed and will eat here any time I'm in Portland. I highly recommend this place, it was delicious and on par with the udon shops I frequented in Gardenia/Torrance in LA when I lived there with my family.

What a delightful surprise this was on a chilly December day. The interior including the open kitchen is so welcoming and cozy, it's a beautiful aesthetic. Prompt, polite and accurate service as well. The broth for both the salmon belly stew and kama age udon were both so deliciously flavorful, deep and wholly unique. The Kama age is savory and light while the salmon belly is not surprisingly rich and fatty, while the cuts of salmon were so perfectly cooked. Moist, delicious and of so rich, it just seemed to melt in my mouth. I also had a omusubi with men-taiko, which is a spiced tarako caviar and it was one of the best I've had and I am a fiend for a good omusubi. Lastly the unagi roll was excellent, with buttery and boneless unagi that I wish I could have in a unagi don. I like that it was a more simple, traditional roll, not an overly sweet, Americanized version. It really let the ingredients shine. I also appreciated that they serve good tea and give you several varieties to choose from. This really is a gem of a place that I'll definitely be returning to so I can get some authentic Japanese udon and comfort foods.

This was my first time here, and the udon really hit the spot on a cool, cloudy day in Portland. I tried the Hokkai-miso udon. I love that they make their own udon in-house! The broth was good without being too salty, and felt like a warm, nourishing meal. It's bright, clean, and modern. Service is very polite/friendly. If you're here for a conference, it's an easy walk from the Convention center.

Wonderful, friendly, polite and prompt service. Staff was very nice from the waitress to behind the counter help and our sushi chef. Ambiance is good for such a small restaurant. Prices on sushi were a little high but probably not for Portland. Our meal was excellent very flavorful. And the spicy beef udon had a rich deep broth flavor. The Chicken Kama Aye Udon is basically a deconstructed Udon bowl, so a great experience. Both Udons came with only s little bit of meat so it really is about the broth and noodles. The noodles are perfectly cooked and soft but with a little chew. The sushi was excellent we had the white tiger and my favorite was the teardrop (see pics) . Great meal on a cool rainy day in Portland and an easy walk from the Convention Center. It is small but mighty!

Hidden within the busy area, this spot is small, giving off intimate vibes for date night, but casual. The service is great, the staff checks up regularly and food comes out pretty quick. All the dishes were sharable for family style but also great to eat individually. Flavor wise were all great, didn't lack anything. Cocktail drinks 6/10, tapas dishes 8/10, main udon and curry dishes 7.5/10. Would definitely come back for the authentic taste.

I am certainly picky when it comes to Japanese food. Yes, afuri has their tsukemen, which I love, but sometimes, cold noodles is much needed during hot pdx summer. I was immediately sold when I saw mentaiko udon here, I thought, YES YES AND YES! Their udon mentaiko is light, flavorful, and has the umph I've been looking for since I moved here. It's also close to home which is a major plus.

The restaurant itself is pleasing to the eye, especially the seating in the back! The food and service were really just okay though.. it almost $20 for a bowl of udon, we were expecting more. I got the chicken dipping udon- I was expecting the broth to have more flavor but it didn't really.. and there were only a few small pieces of chicken. The toppings for my udon weren't fresh. It seemed like they had been prepared and sitting on the little plates for hours. What was meant to be crunchy was actually a bit stale instead and my friend said her tempura was similar. My udon was good but not anything spectacular, but my friend's udon did stick together in clumps. Unfortunately it was not the best meal and we wouldn't come back.

Went with my family for father's day and had the fun experience of using the tatami mat seating! We ordered quite a few things, I had the Vegan Kama-age Udon and I really recommend it if you are a fan of noodles. The service was very inviting and quick, we didn't wait long considering the quality of the dishes. Loved this place, such a nice setting and great menu.

My boyfriend and I have been here twice. The music is great, food was delicious, and the service was quick. The ambiance is mellow and warm. My boyfriend also has a severe sesame allergy and they are very accommodating, which is not always the case! Toma was our server both times and was excellent. Make sure to try the Oregon Roll.

First visit here, hence the 3 stars. Would like to come back and review their other menu items and increase this review to 5 stars! We came on a Sunday afternoon around 2pm ish. We were told that the wait to order food would be 30 minutes but we were able to order appetizers while we wait, so we agreed to wait. They sat us right away though. They took us to the back room and we felt a bit ignored the first couple minutes. No one came by to give us water despite them serving the parties in front of us. We finally got someone to come take our order at around the 25 min mark of waiting. Which we felt was kind of a long wait being told we could order appetizers while we waited. Drinks came about 15 min later. I asked for water but wasn't given it till our appetizers came out. I guess it sucks being out all the way in the back where you're not noticed haha. Food wise, the udon was very tasty and flavorful. Wish we had the option of adding more tempura flakes for the texture. It was only a pinch that was given. I enjoyed the tempura udon kama tama style which was with the soft boiled egg. It definitely brightened the flavor of the broth with its creaminess.

Had my eye on Wa Kitchen Kuu for a couple months and finally had a chance to drop in~ Impromptu run but with the winter weather and the recent rain, udon sounded like a godsend. We were able to grab a seat pretty easily on a weeknight around 6 pm. Omnivore husband had to get the chicken karaage which came out smelling incredible if I say so myself -- he also went with the mentaiko dry udon because of course he did. I got the atsu-age as an appetizer and the vegan kama-age udon because I can't say no to noodles or dipping lolol Husband enjoyed his food immensely and destroyed it pretty quickly. I have to admit that the atsu-age was impressive! The tofu inside was super soft and they somehow had the outside perfectly seared -- A+. The kama-age udon was absolutely delicious. Oftentimes with vegan or veggie broths, I am scared as heck about whether I'll get salt water or something without any flavor. But that definitely was not the case here! The vegan broth was flavorful with that hint of umami and definitely hit the spot. Would get again 100%. Service was very friendly and kind and they were super helpful to pointing out if there would be fish/fish flakes in items I could opt for it without. Parking is alas street parking which can be a bit difficult at times. Drop by if you are in the area and enjoy their goods! I can't wait to go back and have try the japanese curry next time~

I loved this restaurant as my first meal on the Portland trip on Sunday. However, I am disappointed that it was so good I promised to return the next few days and bring people, and the chef and servers were thrilled, but they never mentioned being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays! So I only got to eat here once, sigh. I came here around 3 PM on foot from the convention center searching for food after getting up at 2:45 AM Pacific to fly two planes to Portland for a conference. I was a bit delirious and was actually walking towards food carts a little past here when I happened upon the restaurant. I love Japanese food and it looked beautiful inside, so I stopped here. I sat at the counter and ordered a cold genmai tea. I had a hard time choosing dishes because literally everything sounding good, so I ordered two items: the avosaba maki (cucumber, avocado, and shiso inside, mackerel outside sprinkled with shichimi with ponzu) and the mentaiko kamatama udon (udon in warm dashi broth with mentaiko, onsen tamago, nori, green onion, tempura bits). I joked with the staff that this was "me in a bowl" and it was really damn good. I truly wanted to come back for a meal the next two days but alas, on Wednesday I had to go to the airport and did not have time to stop for a to go meal en route. I highly recommend you give it a try! Itadakimasu!

I decided to stop by here for a Sunday dinner while on a trip to Portland and ordered ahead for pickup. I got the vegetable curry and earl grey pudding. The vegetable curry was delicious, very flavorful, on the salty side, and fragrant - I got comments from other passersby about how good my food smelled whenever I opened up the takeout box. The earl grey pudding was fine, it doesn't look too great in my photo but it was sweet and had a decent amount of the earl grey tea flavor.

Stopped here on a Sunday evening and we were the only customers in the store, so there was no wait. However, it definitely got busier as the night went on. Really wanted to try this place's kama-age udon, which is fresh udon, served still boiling in an individual pot. You then dip the udon into the broth to eat. I ordered the Hokkai Miso Kama-age Udon ($14) and it wasn't like any udon I've had before! The texture of the hand-made udon was pretty amazing and the broth was super flavorful. Loved the interior decor of the place and it's quite spacious, as there is a back section too. Their bathrooms also have bidets, so that was a pretty enjoyable experience. They were playing a great playlist, so that definitely enhanced the experience

What an unique experience! A quaint Japanese eatery, Wa Kitchen Kuu features hand made udon along with sushi and rice dishes. Located along SE Grand Ave, parking can be a bit tricky/inconvenient. There are many free 2 hour parking streets and paid parking is free after 6pm! We got the Men-taiko Kama-tama Udon, Tuna-Krab-Salmon roll, Avo Salmon hand roll, and Unagi nigiri. The Men-taiko Kama-tama Udon was a brothless udon and it was unlike anything I've had before. It had housemade thin noodles with onion oil, bonito and soy dashi sauce. Toppings included Men-takio (spicy tarako caviar), soft egg, tobiko, tempura puffs, green onions, and nori. It was loaded with flavor, savory, sweet, umami, and the tarako caviar added a creamy savory-ness. The dish was a bit on the saltier side, but all the flavors worked well. The udon noodles were al-dente and the texture was perfect - chewy, not too doughy. It wasn't like the normal udon noodles I was used to, but it was unique and good! The sushi was also fresh and the rolls were pretty big! Great quality and flavors. Service was attentive and patient, all in all a great experience!!

First visit to this amazing space. Love the distinct layout which reminded me of a Tokyo izakaya. Order a grilled mackerel to share as appetizer; well prepared and succulent. The Kama-age udon was great (eaten tsukemen style with the miso broth) The tempura udon was special: wanted to down the dashi broth. Served said the owner gets up daily at 4:30 to prepare fresh udon noodles. They tasted fresh! Will be back to try other offerings.

Parking is definitely difficult, but it's worth the walk to eat at Wa Kitchen Kuu. Despite its elevated atmosphere and beautiful seating, the prices are still reasonable for the freshness of the fish and the delectable selection of udon. Servers are kind and responsive, and are quite speedy with the water refills. Definitely appreciate that. In addition, they are very attentive to your needs and requests when choosing menu items--I have to say, each of their recommendations were spot on! The chef is a wonderful lady who you can spot cooking directly, and it's no question that these dishes are all made with love. I would most definitely order the mentaiko udon & chirashi at all costs--those made our night wonderful! Their chicken and other dishes are also spectacular, but those were definitely the star of the show. Their bathrooms also come equipped with bidets! A nice touch that I definitely missed from my last trip to Tokyo. If anything, this restaurant deserves more love for its quality. I love how the atmosphere is peaceful and serene, but their food deserves the hype for sure!

Nice customer service, very kind server. I liked the "horigotatsu"seating area. We took off our shoes and sat at comfortably. The food was good as well!

Toilsome task trying to find secure parking around the one-way MLK Blvd. Pretty pricey for lunch for two ~ $80. Understated village wood decor, cozier seating deeper inside the restaurant. Taste ~ every Kuu kitchen is individually operated, different chefs & cooks & menus, so not to assume a franchised expectation. This kitchen has a hard working lady running the show with flavors that are pure Japanese ~ flavors that are clean and fresh, soups with depth, succulent sushi. Freezer chilled mug for the draft beer ;)

I've had Wa Kitchen Kuu on my hit list for a while now, but I rarely ever find myself in the area around downtown anymore; it's a bit of a shitshow these days. But this incredible little slice of Tengoku (Heaven) is likely to change that, after our experience this weekend! My wife, some friends and I had just left the Van Gogh exhibit at the Convention Center, and everyone was in the mood for lunch. My friends, who tend to stay away from Portland at all costs, deferred to me for suggestions. Pulling up my map, I saw the tag for Wa Kitchen Kuu, and suggested Japanese. They were onboard, so we walked the handful of blocks and arrived in minutes. It was mid-afternoon, so well after the lunch rush, and we were seated immediately, despite signage indicating that, due to COVID and short-staffing, things may take longer than usual (spoiler alert: they didn't!). Hot tea was ordered all around, as well as a healthy variety of entrées: tempura udon, curry udon, chicken katsu curry, edamame, a spider roll, some miso soup, and my new favorite dish in town, (dun Dun DUN!) the spicy beef noodle soup! Wowza! Conversation ground to a screeching halt as the food began to arrive and people began to dig in, our friendship silenced in awe and wonder. Everything around the table was excellent; even simple things like the miso soup, of which I am particularly picky, was among the best I've found anywhere in Portland. The spicy beef noodle soup lives up to its name, bringing a comforting heat in a rich broth, complete with green onions, a soft boiled egg, and a side of kimchi tacked on as well, for a little extra razzle dazzle! In the end, nothing was leftover or taken to-go; every noodle slurped, every spoonful emptied; every roll consumed; every bean removed from its pod. Heads were bowed in reverence and contemplation. Gastrointestinal enlightenment was achieved, even as all of us departed, a pound or two heavier. Good thing we had a bit of a walk back to the car! I haven't enjoyed a Japanese restaurant in Portland this much in a long time, ever since my former favorite fell from grace. This is real, authentic, traditional, quality Japanese cuisine, reasonable priced, and despite what the sign may say, hot and fresh out the kitchen faster than expected. And the service is just as exemplary. The concept of kaizen is alive and well here at Wa Kitchen Kuu! Gochisousamadeshita!

I loved my visit to this Japanese restaurant. My daughter had provided me the dining tip that this was authentic Japanese food and she was spot on. Parking is challenging on this corner and the building currently has construction and scaffolding on it, making it harder to spot. But our group of 4 found it after the lunch hour. There were no tables available upon our arrival, but they offered us a table in the back and we loved it. We started with a round of rice green tea (excellent) and steamed gyoza and spicy tuna rolls. It's always a sneak preview of what's to come when you order boring standard appetizers and they stand out. We knew we were in for a good meal. Kama-age Udon: Fresh Udon, served still boiling in an individual pot. To eat, you dip into the seasoned broth. I got the house-made Kenchin vegetable soup and bonito dashi broth w/ chicken thigh. Plus, I added Kama-tam style, creamy soft boiled egg with bonito soy dashi sauce. This was excellent and done right. I was so excited to eat. Others at the table were happily eating spicy beef noodles, curry chicken and singing their food praises. Everyone was very happy with their dishes. Finally, service was friendly and attentive, despite us being in the back. We all highly recommend. I look forward to going back and trying more of the menu.

Food was absolutely amazing and the server was so generous. I can in with my sleeping baby and they were nice enough to place us near the back away from the crowd. I also got a fish egg rice ball and that was my favorite.

We have been here twice for the udon and it is delicious! I would recommend ordering additional protein if you're hungry. We also really enjoyed the Mineno Hakubi Ryoko Natsu unpasteurized sake brewed with white koji!

I've eaten here twice in the past 3 years, whenever I've been down in Portland. (I'm from Tacoma.) My first visit I was with my pops. He had the unagi don and I, being less adventurous, had the hamburger steak. We had beers too, and after a while I grew some balls and tried a bite of his food. I was blown away! Recently, at the end of May, I was in town with my brother in law and we decided to stop in for a bite. To my dismay, I discovered the unagi don had been taken off the menu, because of import price increases due to COVID. As you can imagine, I was pretty bummed. But the chef took pity on me, told me she'd make it special for me so I can relive that one memory with my pops. What a wonderful lady! Can't recommend this place enough!

We were here for dinner on Saturday. The wait time was a good amount of wait not too much with the convention event going, it was pretty good. The food was soo delicious. We loved all of the food here. We also got seated in those special Japanese tatanami (remove shoes) type seating. Anyway, overall experience was awesome! The takoyaki and karaage were also a highlight!

Never would say I was super into udon but this place might have just changed my mind. Small little store with a handful of staffs on MLK. Inside decor was very nice and simple, super relaxing to dine in. The place wasn't packed on a weekday night but we had to wait a bit to be seated. Service was on the slow side from ordering to getting the food to paying but I'll chalk it up the the small number of crews and how attentive they were to the food produced. They got a variety of Japanese dishes from sushi rolls to noodles to donburi for you to choose from. I tried the Kama-Age Chicken Udon which included a selection of toppings like negi, seaweed, ginger, and tempura crunch to add to a flavorful chicken broth that was used to dip the freshly made and warm udon noodles in. The broth was oh-so-umami. The balance of sweet and savory was perfect. I could drink the broth straight for days. There were veggies and chicken thigh pieces in the broth as well. The udon noodles were tender and thick enough to sop up the soup but not overly starchy. At first the portion looked small, but it did fill me up pretty well. The White Tiger Roll, which was a special, was also very nice. Cruchy tempura wrapped in rice and topped with kani. The roll paired very well with the unagi sauce and I especially loved the shishi to pepper inside. This place definitely made the list of hidden gems and the place to bring people when they visites for sure!

We were just in Tokyo less than 2 months ago. From the way the food was served, the flavor, the taste, the restaurant decor and the hospitality, all reminded us of our recent trip to Japan. The rotating lunch is served daily and this place makes all of their own noodles and sauces. We are glad to find such an awesome dining option on a Sunday.

I have eaten here before and the food has been good. The reason I am giving it a 3 star rating today, because I wanted to order the veggie udon and add chicken, but was told I could not add the chicken. Rather than make an assumption I asked why my request was not able to be accommodated. I was basically told it is the chef's preference not to add other ingredients because it ruins the flavor . I guess customer palate or preference is not applicable here. If you want to have an eat as is experience, this is your place. I did have the veggie udon and it was okay, I added chili sauce for flavor and was charged an additional $1! I probably won't be back.

This place has amazing udon! I have tried the kama-age udon (my fave) and the spicy beef udon as well. The kama-age comes with udon that you dip in a rich and flavorful broth, and it also comes with a soft boiled egg and other sides that you can add. Would definitely recommend this dish because it's an experience that feels authentic and it also tastes really good. They also serve sushi and everything I've tried was really good and fresh (rolls and nigiri). the tuna salmon and tempura roll was amazing! Servers were really friendly as well If you're looking for good udon and authentic japanese food definitely check this place out.

Best karaage in town. The curry is also very authentic, strong and flavorful, took us back to our time in Japan! The service was professional and friendly. The space is beautiful, modern and zen at the same time, made for a very pleasant time.

Walking in with a very friendly, the restaurant kitchen make us feel family dinner. They gave us one piece of eel free is $12 and not even in the menu to taste it. The friendly service and very nice of food. Of course, we will come back

Delicious! Great service. A bit of a wait but definitely worthwhile :) Will be back! Will check out the drink menu next time. Gyoza was great, crunchy, and extremely crunchy. Soup was flavorful and the veggies were cooked perfectly.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5! very cute restaurant with a relaxed yet formal ambiance. the food was delicious and fresh, I got the vegan sushi plate. It was a little heavy on the avocado and would have preferred some variety, but the ingredients were very fresh. They were busy so the service was a little slow but still great. Overall a very nice lunch :D

Craving some Japanese cuisine and Wa Kitchen Kuu came up with solid reviews so had to check them out for the first time. Didn't eat in the location and took our items for takeout but when picking up the location had cute decor and will need to come back another time to get the full experience. Called in ahead and order ETA on a Friday night was less than 30 mins for pickup. | WHAT WE GOT | + Spider Roll ($13) + Unagi Don ($16) + Kuu Style Loco Moco ($14) Overall solid presentation for the items to go and our main dishes came with side salads to enjoy. The spider roll was filling and was easy to share. The unagi don was tasty but protein comes on the smaller portion side which is expected since eel is more expensive. The winner in my book was their kuu style loco moco. The menchi katsu was juicy and had great flavor. The demi-glace sauce was delicious and wish I had more to pour over my rice! Cheese omelet/salad were nice additions but the katsu was the star. On their temporary menu I noticed they also had okonomiyaki and udon which I will need to try next time based on fellow Yelpers reviews.

We've been here many times and it never fails to disappoint. High quality Japanese food, tasty combination of flavors, extensive menu, and great service. The salmon zukushi set is a go-to, and the noodle soups are amazing too.

What a wonderful fun and delicious place to eat close to the Portland Convention Center. We stopped here for a late lunch and boy were we in for a treat! It was actually better then the show we saw at the convention center LOL.... The food: sushi roll with salmon, tuna and tempura bits (forgot the name) was absolutely delicious!! Tender, melt in the mouth fish and perfect combo of flavors. I had the Veggie Shio Udon, delicious broth and lots of veggies. I could barely eat half, it was filling and delicious. My husband has the Kakuni Don and loved it: pork and egg over rice. Our son had the spicy salmon Poke Don with deliciously tender salmon and tuna, over rice. Beautifully presented by very friendly staff. I would most definitely recommend!

We went on a weekday and it wasn't too busy at 12pm until 1pm rolled around, more people shuffled in. Cute spot with seating at the sushi bar as well as some tall tables for 4-5 people. You wouldn't notice this restaurant in the area, but happy we did. Chicken katsu curry $14 was yummy but did not amaze me. My friend had the rotating lunch special $20, and hand rolls and liked them! The customer service is friendly and quick to help. This place is yummy but nothing knocked my socks off.

This place is a five minute walk from Oregon Convention Center, with a relatively small front but the restaurant goes all the way to the back. If you prefer not to sit at counter height tables, there are regular ones toward the back. Very friendly staff, most of the cooks are Japanese (always a good sign at a Japanese restaurant). We had the California roll, which tasted fresh, and the Wasabi is decent quality. Chicken nanban came with some romaine and rice, overall tasty, rice is cooked well. Tempura is fried just right, udon soup is made with kombu, udon noodle is cooked nicely. Kids also enjoyed the O-musubi (just the rice portion as they don't want the caviar). Overall all the food was well made, but nothing really stands out. I recommend this place for authentic Japanese food, and would certainly visit again when in the area.

If I got into a really bad fight and was drinking from a straw, or recovering from sensational dental surgery, my first stop would be Wa Kitchen Kuu for some Vegan Udon broth... so tasty and comforting. Also nice that they have sake flights. Service is great-- will be back!

I just randomly find the Japanese restaurant. Actually I want to try the cold broth odon but there is no more. So I chose the Men-taiko kama-tama odon and it's so good! the broth is salty and sweet mixed with Men-taiko and others, they get along well.

Breaking my vacation hiatus again for a standout spot! I would normally rate this place a 4, but the fact that such an authentically Japanese restaurant exists in Portland, out of all places, elevates it to 5 stars. It's a bit too expensive for the portions you get, but everything else about this restaurant is perfect. The decor is a perfect industrial chic. The menu items are traditional Japanese fare beyond your usual curry and unagi bowls. The clam udon (dipping method) was incredible, mostly because the broth was so umami and rich without being overly salty. Must try the rice dishes next time! Street parking is somewhat easy to find, and no crowds on a Sunday night.

Very authentic Japanese food. All the noodle dishes are excellent and service is very good. Highly recommend.

This place on the east side of Portland has a very unique udon experience! We ordered spicy beef udon, and kama chicken udon. Both has a very different taste from each other. Spicy beef udon is a bit more hearty, a bit more salty, and spicy. While Kama chicken udon is light and you eat by dipping the udon into the soup which is super fun to do. We love them both!