Koji Osakaya Japanese Restaurant

This is not the Koji’s from when I first moved to Portland 20 years ago. Maybe I’ve changed; it was, after all, my first experience with sushi and it altered my reluctance to try new foods, and since then I’ve had many a sushi experience. Maybe it’s their competitor, Mio Sushi, that tainted Koji’s for me. I might prefer a separate sushi menu with full color photos and explanations of what I’m ordering, excellent service, and the freshest sushi in town. But really, it’s the quality of the food that has changed as well as the service. We ordered four rolls, two basic and two «fancy». The basics were fine, but the fancier rolls were not as good. Both fell apart when trying to eat them, and the flavors were either too bland or didn’t come together. The veggie tempura was fine, but the dipping sauce again was bland. Nothing tasted fresh; it was similar to going to Sushiland, which I detest. The service was subpar, with a delayed greeting at the door, empty water glasses, and lack of explanation for the special rolls. The atmosphere is dark, cramped, and moist. For me, this experience was the end of an era. I am no longer a fresh faced 20 year old new to the big city; I am now a 41 year old woman who demands quality and perfection for every meal, as I know that somewhere in our food Mecca I can find it. Adieu Koji’s.

This is the worst meal I have ever had from the Northeast Kojis’. It’s never as good as its’ downtown counterpart but this was an all time low. The Tempura Donburi was inedible, mushy flavorless tempura with gummy rice and none of the flavors that make it Donburi. The Udon was laced with gnarly bits of what was supposed to be chicken, and the broth was flavorless except for the salt. This will be the last meal that we try from this restaurant?

The sushi here is always good. The staff is very friendly. I really like the Las Vegas and Double Trouble rolls. They change the specials every so often and I’ve never had anything that I did not enjoy.

I have been coming to this restaurant since 2010. It is by far the best Japanese food out there! It is a smaller establishment, very cozy and inviting. The air is fully of warmth and the staff are simply the best! The food is delicious and appropriately priced. The sushi is delicious (thank you sushi chef!) I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who would like an authentic Japanese restaurant. Try the beef curry udon, it is like a curry soup! It’s very delicious and perfect during these colder days. :)

To be honest this is one of the best Japanese Restaurants in town. I come to this place at least twice a month. I love their food, I love their atmosphere and most of all I love their service! I found this place when I came back from a small trip to Japan and was looking for the best restaurant that reminded of the extraordinary food I tried overseas. Wow did this place deliver!
Aside from the amazing food, the service is stellar! Like I said before, I’m in there at least twice a month and all of the servers know my name and my order. They see me coming and they instantly know what I want and how I want it. This is big for me because, not going to lie, I’m one of the pickiest people on the planet! Everything I order has something removed or something added, and they get it right every time. It is awesome!
I have so much love for this little restaurant, and all of the amazing people that work there! This is truly an amazing place to eat at, try and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Made a trip down to PDX for an eat fest… had LOVED this restaurant across from the Arlene Schnitzer Hall downtown many times but it closed earlier this year. Koji on Weidler was huge let down poor service, sushi was not near the quality of the other location, donburi’s egg was overcooked, never received an ordered soup and asked for no masago and instead had it slathered on top of our roll.

Definitely a disorganized mess there these days. My husband and I went there on date night before a movie and were seriously underwhelmed at the whole experience, and won’t be returning.
We arrived on a mild fall evening to find the A/​C on high and other people with their coats on as it was so cold. Instead of being greeted, we were just told blandly to go find a table. Service was minimal the whole evening, and we weren’t sure who was our waitperson as two women (one being the person who told us to go find a table) seemed to be randomly coming by. My husband got his appetizer right away, while mine on the other hand came after the main course. My sushi appetizer was incorrect and it was another 10 minutes before the 2 pieces were replaced with the right one. They cleared our plates and promptly spilled soy sauce all over my husband’s lap.
It gets better. The second waitress (the one who «greeted» us initially) gave us various versions of our bill, charging our credit card THREE times incorrectly, with cocktails we never ordered, food never requested, etc. Mumbled apologies at best from them — just glad I have enough credit available since my card was charged almost $ 200 instead of the $ 45 meal that we consumed.
The food has also gone mediocre. My husband’s katsu looked and tasted like chicken fingers from the frozen food aisle. The sushi is no longer anything to rave about, just a step above grocery store take-​out sushi, and it took at least 15 minutes for my udon to cool enough to safely eat (with one sad mushroom that had sunk to the bottom…).
The sad part is the lack of engagement overall by the staff. You used to leave Koji and they’d all say goodbye/​thank you/​arigato. Now it’s like you were never there. Having eaten at Koji for over 30 years since their first location on Macadam, this location has proven to have really taken a dive. We won’t be returning.

Ewwwww. Don’t do it. Go to Safeway and get sushi. It will be much better I promise!
It was hot in there, the music was all over the place crazy, service slow and food was terrible. I went with a party of 5 and only one crazy «finish your plate» guy stuffed down the rest of his food because «he paid for it damnit». Whatever. I left most of mine and it ruined my appetite for much else. Glad we all survived.

We love the tempura and sushi here. Nice servers. TERRIBLE LOUD JAZZ MUSIC playing, the kind of jazz that has no melody, just many annoying notes. We beg the owners, please change the music! How about some nice, atmospheric Japanese music to go with the cuisine?

Going downhill fast.
We have eaten at Koji for years, but tonight we were served old, dried out fish that was terrible. I returned my anago nigiri (the first time I have ever returned food there) only to receive equally bad unagi nigiri. Chicken on the donburi was dry and old tasting. They must have changed to frozen fish or something, but it was a horrible meal for us all. They just gave up caring.

This is a wonderful, inexpensive sushi restaurant. I like to go for the Happy Hour Menu which is offered from 3 – 6 daily. There are many items offered that are fantastic. I like the Sushi Sampler B which has tuna, salmon and I think it’s yellowtail for $ 4. The tempura roll is excellent for $ 5. They have gyoza (pot stickers) for $ 4 – 5? terrific!!! The staff is friendly and usually attentive except when they are really busy, the food is terrific for the price and overall I have had a great experience there. Bottom line, you can get better sushi elsewhere but you’re going to pay a lot more for it.

NESE ANT? Fix your sign already! Its been busted for years now.

Ive been here many times throughout the last few years and it was a two ½ to three star place at best. The miso soup is one of the best I’ve tried. Still, it was usually mildly annoying with the table arrangement and at times, bored seeming servers.
Last night I went and it seemed a different spot entirely. The salmon sushi was perfect and outstanding quality but the best part was really the server. Friendly, infectious mood — someone who clearly enjoys her job and took the time to explain anything I had questions about. This kind of service has just been absent of late in some of the more supposed high end places in Portland. And I am fed up with it. My experience here last night was a reminder of how much I personally dislike a snobby attitude from waitpersons. I don’t care how good your good and drink may be, if you’re a wanker you won’t get another chance with me as a customer– back to Koji, extra star for improved quality of food and a thank you to the super lady who has so much passion and self awareness in making dinner a great time.
I am grateful.

I was in town for a single evening and wanted to indulge my love of sushi. This was close to my hotel and was recommended positively by the staff. I was pleasantly surprised to find a quaint atmosphere with no wait on a Tuesday night. Sitting at the bar I tried the Angry Dragon roll (awesome!) and the spider roll (boring and not something I would have again here). I also had an order each of the maguro, tobiko, and unagi. The unagi was my favorite of those three. To close it out, I had the vanilla tempura ice cream.
The staff was attentive but not overbearing and very accommodating. I’d be back on my next trip!

There are tons of sushi places in this neighborhood and I’ve tried a few of them, but I keep coming back to Koji because I like theirs the best. This is not a fancy restaurant; pretty basic little place on the corner, but the food is great; service is very friendly — all of which has been very consistent over my multiple visits. Even though the restaurant itself may be «basic», the sushi chef’s pride in their work still shows in the pieces of artwork that always appear on my plate.

I thoroughly enjoyed their niku beef, truly a tasty dish, it is however a little more expensive then the average sushi place

It’s okay. They have a wide variety of sushi and other Japanese dishes. But I immediately lose all interest for sushi that has cream cheese in it. I’m sorry, but I really don’t think it belongs. It removed any ounce of freshness and clarity that the sushi originally had, and I think of it as a cheap filler.
For authentic sushi, I would go to Daruma. The experience is more personalized and I leave the place feeling refreshed and astounded. Unfortunately, Koji doesn’t do the same thing for me.

I enjoyed the sushi here.
It’s a tight space to walk through, but small and manageable. Looked clean, food was tasty. The Donburi (ribeye and onion rice bowl) I had reminds me of some good southern cooking, with an Asian twist, (if your bringing someone not too sure about sushi, that’s a good filling recommendation).
To think, I biked past this place so many times, (it’s on Weidler, a main bike path). Would for sure go back.

Great business hours, affordable prices, and great menu!
This is my favorite go to Japanese restaurant. I love the udon and love the tori karaage. This is comfort food for me. What’s better than crunchy, well seasoned pieces of chicken and a hot bowl of noodle soup?!
When I’m in my lighter food mood, I really love their spicy tuna roll and hat roll. I love tuna so the chunky pieces of tuna hits the spot. I also like how they use onions and spicy oils instead of siracha and a mayo base for the spicy part. Mayo in sushi is not a good combo to me. The hat roll is habachi, maguro, and tuna. Good size rolls for the price. I’ve never been disappointed the many times I’ve been here.
Another reason I give them 5 stars is because this is one of the few sushi places that is open on a Sunday that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg! Love it!

Koji’s okonomiyaki starts with a melt in your mouth almost soufflé-​like egg base with crunchy grated red prepared ginger. On that is a mild mayonnaise and an oyster sauce that is a little sweeter. The unique aspect of Koji’s take on the dish is the topping of nori and fish flakes. The heat puts the fish flakes in motion. You have to see it to believe it! It’s haunted!
Koji serves solid J-​food at moderate prices in an authentic Japanese way. I also love their chirashi sushi. Yum!