by Marie Richie

RESTAURANT MURATA
200 SW Market St., Suite 105
Portland, OR 97201
(503)-227-0080
Probably the most expensive sushi restaurant in town, Murata specializes in creating authentic Japanese food of the highest quality. This small and sparsely decorated space in downtown also offers private tatami rooms that can be reserved. This is the only place in town to reliably get fresh toro (fatty tuna belly). Be sure to ask your server for some recommendations, as you’re sure to encounter things on the menu that gaijin have never heard of – they’ll be happy to help you expand your culinary horizons. The usually large Japanese crowd found here on any given night attests to the authenticity.

by Marie Richie
SUSHIVILLE SUSHI-GO-ROUND
1514 NW 23rd Ave. (at Quimby)
Portland, OR 97210
(503)-226-4710
One of several sushi restaurants in town with a conveyor belt, Sushiville serves the best quality fish, by far. Walk in and sit right down. Servers are ready to take your order for anything you can’t find going around, drinks and special requests. The bar is enormous, though the seats are not. The cafeteria atmosphere is punctuated by endless pop-hits of the 1980s. However, you won’t care when you get the bill. Each color-coded plate ranges from $1.25 for edamame or tomago to $3.75 for the spicy dragon or caterpillar rolls. Help yourself to all the ginger and wasabi you want, and don’t forget to have your frequent diner card stamped. Available for take out.