Yuzu - OR 97005

In a SW strip mall. There’s no obvious signage. Blacked-out windows. YET, Yuzu packs out. We get there just before they open to get a table. Last night was a treat: Tried sparkling sake (I'm a sucker for bubbles). The blue bottle—bedazzling. The tiny glass—adorable. Jury's out on pairing it with ramen—can’t beat a Japanese lager. Here we go... Gyoza: paper-thin wrapper, crisp on the bottom, delicious, tender filling. Never enough. Agedashi tofu (inhaled, so no photo): delicate tofu in an equally delicate crispy coating. Chicken karage: tender enough to "sever" with chopsticks (after swooping in on my first bit-too-big molten piece). Kewpie mayo and lemon—what's not to love? Curry ramen (make-you-cough medium spicy): I like this ramen when I'm up for something robust—big flavors to the bottom of the bowl (I tapped out on the last third of broth—I tried, but sparkling sake, gyoza, tofu, chicken...!). Service: Gotta say it: They're a bad-ass all-women team (for a while now). Friendly, attentive service. Zen-like line—pleasure to watch as they create our food. Simple, clean décor (love the high-back banquette). Always a fantastic experience. Visit #: lost count I would recommend Yuzu to: 1) Military friends previously stationed in Japan 2) Animé fans (anime soundtracks play in the background) 3) First-time ramen-ers (lucky!)

I haven’t had something so good in a while ~ I ordered the vegetarian ramen and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. To start with, the manager/owner was very welcoming and sweet. That makes all the difference! Closer to closing time, we were the only ones there and she didn’t make us feel rushed at the slightest but actually waited till we were all done. I cannot wait to come back during fall and winter. Your dish was definitely a warm hug

A medium sized izakaya Raman shop perfect for an informal dinner. The three appetizers we had were pretty good, the karage was crunchy and juicy on the inside. What the breading lacked in flavor the zesty Mayo made up for in character. 7.5/10 The ramen was served with excellent portions and at a normal Portland price, about 15 bucks before add-ons. I always add on an egg for good measure. My wife and I both ordered the signature ramen on the menu and it was good, somewhat mild in flavor but still rich. You can tell the tare is made in house and with care. 7.5/10 The service was excellent, considering the price and atmosphere of the restaurant. Wait staff were attentive in picking up plates that were used and quickly serving food. 9/10 The ambiance is nothing to write home about, this isn't a dining experience, this is your local delicious ramen spot. Now Beyonce was frankly unremarkable and that's okay. 6/10 All in all, if a friend wanted to check it out or wanted to eat there, I'd happily oblige. But I've got my own ramen spot closer to my house that I enjoy more so I won't be returning regularly.

Delightful authentic Japanese dinner. The outside is unassuming, but as soon as you enter, you are greeted warmly by the friendly staff. Excellent Sake selection and lots of options for an excellent meal. Highly recommended if you're in the area.

Everything here is really delicious! The ramen is the best in town. The ambiance is cozy and comforting. All the dishes were very high quality as well. My only complaint is that the portion sizes are a bit small. It takes multiple dishes to get full.

Delicious food using fresh and quality ingredients. The space is small and cozy with bar seating that’s great for solo accommodation. I usually prefer my Tonkotsu to be more milky and white, but assuming it’s a different style or method at Yuzu, it was still really good. Will return.

Yuzu is absolutely my favorite Japanese restaurant. The service is excellent and the dishes are consistent in quality every visit. The Japanese fare here is exactly the way I remember them from my trip to Japan. I have not found a better curry rice than yuzu and the kakuni Ramen here is fantastic.

As a frequent visitor to Japan, I long for the authentic intersection between food, atmosphere and service. But mostly food. Yuzu brings a good majority of this to the table. I found myself flashing back to an izakaya in Morioka (minus the tabaco filled air). Atmosphere is a check. I started with the karrage, which came out perfect. Using the Japanese double-fry method, it's more of a steam than a fry. This leaves you with a thin but crispy outside and very juicy, not dry chicken, with very little grease. The aoili sauce really added to the overall flavor. The sashito peppers weren't overly seasoned nor overly spicy, but rather had a good umami flavor. The kimchi cheese spring rolls were the only non-Japanese item I ordered. They were unique and very flakey, but the flavors and textures did not mix too well. I also ordered the cold soba. This is one of the rare time I enjoyed a cold soba. The flavor wasn't overpowering and the texture had a somewhat firm but melt apart texture. Finally, they have a rotating donburi and this visit I scored as they had my favorite Japanese dish - the Katsudon. This was one of the best Katsudonburi I have had in the US. The seasoning had the perfect umami balance with sweetness. The Katsu was crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle, and most importantly the egg was just set and a little runny (I prefer more runny but in the US this is a good compromise to the usual scrambled egg you get on top) Overall fantastic food and atmosphere. The staff were friendly, quick, and attentive. Finally, we arrived 30 mins before they opened on a Saturday night, and it was practically empty when we entered and still had tables available when we were leaving. Highly recommend!