Obon Shokudo - Portland

If you're in search of traditional Japanese cuisine commonly found in American restaurants, this may not be the place for you. However, if you're seeking innovative comfort food, then this restaurant is a must-visit! They offer a wide variety of healthy options and unique flavors. In addition to their regular menu items, they also feature intriguing specials.

I thought the food was okay, nothing that I would go out of my way to eat again. What stood out to me were the unfriendly vibes. I had seen this restaurant at the Gresham festival and food truck in Portland before and always heard good things, so I was surprised by the negative experience. We received unfriendly vibes, especially towards us, as the server seemed to interact positively with other tables but not with us. It felt like we were not welcome, perhaps because we had a child with us and they do not want kids in their restaurant. The $10 cheesecake was disappointing, but the nettle gyoza received positive reviews from others at the table. My dish was mediocre, just food to fill my stomach. Overall, it was a mediocre experience.

We were thrilled to visit this restaurant during our trip and it definitely lived up to our expectations! Our favorite dishes were the katsu curry and okonomiyaki.

I've been waiting YEARS to visit Obon Shokudo as I haven't been to Portland since they opened. I love ramen and sushi is fine but I've longed for a wider selection of vegan Japanese food and those are almost always the only two things I can find. I finally got to visit Obon Shokudo and it didn't disappoint. My husband and I split the combo (with the addition of two extra onigiri) and everything was sooo good. My favorites were the curried korroke, the potato salad, and the yuzu onigiri. I also got a seasonal namazake flight that was phenomenal, and their current seasonal dessert: matcha Sakura panna cotta. The panna clouds was a feast for the senses, beautifully presented in a glass cloche and absolutely delicious. We'll be in Portland for less than a week but I've already told my husband we're going back before we leave! Updated from previous review on 2024-04-04

What an amazing spot, I’ll have t go here again. The food was amazing. I highly recommend going with others and sharing!! I will say it’s way more worth it if you can get all the fixins, so I recommend planning to open that wallet up lol!