Powered By OpenTable: Restaurant Reservations. Right this way.
Restaurant Reservations - Free • Instant • Confirmed

  • Yakuza Lounge

  • Online Reservations

Reserve at Yakuza Lounge

Date

mm/dd/yyyy

Time
Party Size

  • on 1,234 lists
  • Keep track of the places you want to try and share wish lists with friends!
Yakuza Lounge
Yakuza Lounge

Yakuza Lounge Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://yakuzalounge.com
  • Email: info@yakuzalounge.com
  • Phone: (503) 450-0893
  • Hours of Operation: Dinner: Wednesday - Sunday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Asian, Contemporary American
  • Executive Chef: David Gaspar de Alba
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Fireplace, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Catering: Everything from small parties to upwards of 100. Call in advance to discuss menu options and pricing.
  • Private Party Facilities: Seats 8-16 people in semi private back dining area adjacent to our patio.
  • Private Party Contact: Kyle Lovell (503) 450-0983

Getting there

  • Cross Street: NE Killingsworth
  • Public Transit: Trimet 72, 9, and 10
  • Parking: Street Parking
  • Parking Details: Readily available street parking with no meters.
A word from Yakuza Lounge
"Yakuza will reliably impress and surprise, producing dishes beyond experience or expectation." David Sarasohn. The Oregonian 9/2/2010

Inspired by the Japanese Izakaya concept, Yakuza is a true food-lover's bar, offering exceptional drinks and signature dishes best shared with good friends.… Beloved for its classic Kobe Tartar (with jalapeno lime oil + crispy poached egg), Sashimi Trio (tuna, yellowtail + salmon with Thai chili + tobiko) and the award-winning Yakuza Burger (with chevre, shoestring potatoes, house catsup + spicy mayo), Yakuza consistently ups the ante with new favorites like Grilled Octopus or Dungeness Crab Rolls with avocado + crème fraiche. Daily food specials are devised around organic, local ingredients and complement the extensive drink menu of house cocktails, a wide selection of sakes, plus beer and wine. Yakuza is tucked in a beautiful space in the Concordia neighborhood and proudly boasts one of the best outdoor patios in town. Dine and drink with us soon!Continued

Foodspotting photos
See all photos >
Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
  • Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies
  • Diners' Choice WinnerNeighborhood Gem
Diner Reviews
  • "Four of us shared eight dishes. All were delicious! And the specialty cocktails were inventive and yummy. It is a fun atmosphere and it was a great evening. And using Open Table made it so easy."
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "The Yakuza Burger was one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten! The Donburi was also spectacular! We were seated right away and it wasn't too busy. I can't wait to eat there again!"
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "The experience was not what I was expecting. The hostess asked what we ordered twice per item and still the order was partially wrong. The lamb was raw and not medium rare like we wanted. Overall, food was not as good as it should be for the price. Except for the yakuza burger it was awesome."
    Dined on 2/16/2014
  • "LIke everything except the noise level. Way too high for pleasant conversation."
    Dined on 2/13/2014
  • "The food at Yakuza always is fantastic. Yakuza is probably my favorite Portland Restaurant. The sushi is impeccable and the sauces are peerless. They must have a fantastic saucier. My only advice is if you go for the sushi you may want to pass up on the Yakuza burger, which by itself is wonderful, but it competes with the sushi experience."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "We had the sachemi a green bean dish and a vegy roll that had mango inside. All were fantastic. Place was busy so a reservation was a good idea. Although we did not order the burger, the folks next to us did and said it was awesome"
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Food was absolutely AMAZING!! Service was poor but didn't change my opinion of the restaurant. I would tell everyone to check this place out! It is a gem!!!"
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "The service is great. The food is delicious (if you're expecting small portions). So what's the deal with the stupid name? It's offensive, and I avoided this place for years because of it. Once inside, I discovered it's an ordinary place without obvious reference to organized crime. The Yakuza Burger is delicious and substantial. If you're hungry, get that. Everything else is in tiny tapas portions. I went with a raw-food fanatic friend who was in heaven. He had the steak tartar and yellowtail."
    Dined on 1/9/2014
  • "Yakuza is the best for variety, flavor, and satisfaction. I love having sushi and a burger in the same night. Add the kale salad, a perfect glass of wine, and it was a perfect Saturday night out with friends."
    Dined on 1/4/2014
  • "Service was terrible (slow, not friendly at all). Took 20 minutes to put in a drink order. Portions were micro. I made a sandwich when I got home, after spending $40. Food was alright, i suppose."
    Dined on 1/3/2014
  • "Yakuza has some great things on the menu and as always the burger doesn't disappoint. It was surprisingly quiet for New Years Eve but the service was subpar, lots of wait time in between visits to the table. The biggest disappointment is the sushi. As someone who enjoys many of the sushi bars in town, the prices are very inflated and the fish portions are minimal for such a high price. The sashimi trio is cut very thin although the added sauce over the pieces of fish were nice. The $12 rolls are hardly worth the money. Several seemed like something you'd buy out of desperation at Fred Meyer for $6. The spicy tuna roll is loaded with peppers on the outside that dominate the tuna and avocado. Overall, it was an OK meal but overpriced."
    Dined on 12/31/2013
  • "As expected, Yakuza has once again knocked it out of the park. My brother was in from out of town and I have been wanting to show him that the northwest really does beat the pants off the eastern seaboard for great food. Portland thankfully doesn't care too much about the super fancy (read expansive) dinning experience, but rather does a superb job of taking the regular and making it fantastic for everyone. Portland is the only city in the world I can think of that the best place for chicken wings is a Thai restaurant and the burger to end your quest for the best burger in the world can be found at a 'sushi' bar. Of course the sushi is nothing to pass over either as the Hamachi left me without words to describe it's perfection."
    Dined on 12/27/2013
  • "We went on the basis of reviews of their hamburgers--ridiculous of course for a basically Japanese restaurant. My daughter and husband had the hamburgers and were duly impressed but not hysterical as some reviews have been. Definitely worth a try. I tried the beef tartar thinking I had gone made eating such things in a sushi-focused place, but it was really excellent. The only issue with this place is VERY small portions which I generally like but very high prices for VERY small portions. High quality. Some folks may not like sitting on picnic bench seats, although they do have chairs along the perimeter of the room."
    Dined on 11/29/2013
  • "i've been to yakuza many times and am usually psyched about my experience - food, scene, drinks, service....so, brought a group of business colleagues that i wanted to impress. the food was awesome. but, the service was unbearably slow and inattentive. we ended up canceling our last 2 items because were we over it. and i usually like a vibrant, energetic scene, but the music was waaaay too loud, we could barely hear each other across the table. except for the caliber of the food...it was amateur hour."
    Dined on 12/18/2013
  • "Yakuza was a wonderful find. The food was simply delicious and atmosphere dim lit, warm and cozy. The staff was very friendly but seemed a bit stretched. My water glass was empty for at least 20-30 minutes before anyone came by. That is a minor complaint however because everything else was really great! We will for sure be back."
    Dined on 12/7/2013
  • "Food was great and loved getting to visit with Bishop and Dayna!"
    Dined on 11/29/2013
  • "I took my boyfriend here for his birthday. After reading the menu online I was excited for Japanese influenced tapas. The service was great and they were gracious about our being late for the reservation. If dining out was about only the service they would be all star!! However, it is not. The food was okay but way over priced for the size. We ordered 5 menu items and left hungry! These were not small portions they were micro! I honestly cannot justify spending 14.00 for an ounce portion of steak tartare! If I were to ever go here again I would try the burger. Atleast that would be filling."
    Dined on 11/29/2013
  • "Wonderful dinning experience. The burger is a must for first timers."
    Dined on 11/23/2013
  • "The food is FANTASTIC! and the ambiance is great! This is a go to date night spot! Everything we have ever ordered is above and beyond expectations."
    Dined on 11/15/2013
  • "The food was excellent, good flavors and good choices. Interesting cocktail options too. It was very loud and service was a bit slow."
    Dined on 10/18/2013
  • "Food was great, but, portions small for the price and everything could have been warmer. The restaurant was uncomfortably cold. We couldn't wait to leave cuz we were shivering."
    Dined on 10/18/2013
  • "Delicious cocktails. Good plates for sharing. Lively atmosphere."
    Dined on 10/13/2013
  • "Ordered Ahi Prosciutto, Burger, Kimchi Scallops Pancake, Kale Salad. Pancake & Shaved Kale salad was amazing. Very interesting cocktail list, don't leave without trying one."
    Dined on 10/7/2013
  • "Each new plate was a treat and we didn't have to compete with the music to have a conversation. The braised back ribs with grilled peach chili sauce and cilantro were a poem."
    Dined on 10/4/2013
  • "The food at this restaurant is always consistent and amazing. Unfortunately I always hesitate bringing people here because the service is unacceptable. There always seems to be an arrogance with the wait staff every time. It took forever to get served our first drink and then there is never an apology or friendly attitude. The look on the servers face when someone ordered their burger "medium" was rude. It was like he was an idiot for requesting it. The staff all seem to carry the same demeanor which unfortunately represents the overall attitude of the restaurant."
    Dined on 9/28/2013
  • "This restaurant has something for everyone and that something is delicious. One does not expect a most yummy hamburger in what one might think is a sushi place. I love it. I am not a sushi devotee; but have plenty of friends who are. Diversity in food, small plates, reasonable prices and very cool ambiance makes this one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants."
    Dined on 9/15/2013
  • "Visiting Portland with friends, we looked for a restaurant with a good outdoor patio; we reserved at Yakuza based on an article in Oregon Live. When we got there we discovered that the restaurant doesn't take reservations for their outdoor space (not mentioned in the article or by Open Table). They did allow us to wait at the bar, and the cocktails were very good. When we were seated the rest of the experience was great! Loved the various types of sake, and the food portions were the right size for appreciating the tastes."
    Dined on 8/18/2013
  • "Have dined at Yakuza 5+ times, and it is excellent every time. Scallops, tuna poke, and burger are all must-haves. I only wish the beet martini was offered year round..."
    Dined on 8/17/2013
  • "The food was good but if you are a big eater try someplace else. Service was very poor and for a Friday night they should be way more efficient."
    Dined on 8/3/2013
  • "This was my first visit, and I seriously questioned "sushi" anywhere but on an ocean front. I have to save each of the four sashimi plates we had was outstanding with unique seasoning. Likewise, the kale salad and cooked cod were delights. I am ready to go back and try the rest of the menu. Nice outside area and one table, inside but adjacent to the patio, for ten or twelve I see myself organizing a party around."
    Dined on 8/1/2013
  • "Beautiful setting on their back patio was comfortable and quiet. The plates are small (we knew this) but perfectly prepared and presented. We had Miso Black Cod, California roll and Lamb medallions."
    Dined on 7/29/2013
  • "I brought my gf here on Wednesday night for her 24th birthday. She likes a lot of seafood/sushi and I felt that the place would be perfect for special day. I say I nailed it with this place. The atmosphere was just about perfect for us. Not too dim, nor was it loud by any means. The staff was very friendly, and all of our servers (yes it seemed we had more than one. Which I felt was better because if the one server you have is busy you're not wondering where they went) were right on top of everything. I would certainly recommend this place for a date night."
    Dined on 7/25/2013
  • "We really enjoyed the lay out and openness of the restaurant. The food was amazing! It look a while to get out to us and not all of the food came together but the taste of everything really made up for the wait. Their spicy tuna roll is actually spicy, unlike most other places."
    Dined on 7/22/2013
  • "The maki rolls where average, the tempura scallops outstanding. A tapas view on Japanese ingredients and style. More social than romantic, nevertheless a good choice for a date with someone you are already dating or a spouse. Perfect for groups. It's made to share, so enjoy."
    Dined on 7/6/2013
  • "The Yakuza burger has become one of my very favorite things to eat. I no longer live in Portland but every time I'm in town, a trip to Yakuza is mandatory. I've also really enjoyed their sushi and the jicama salad, but the burger is unbeatable."
    Dined on 7/6/2013
  • "Have probably been to Yakuza 10 - 15 times as at one time was just a few blocks from my house. I always find the food excellent and love the ambience both inside and out. I would recommend a combination of sushi / sashimi and warm plates. I would not recommend going there to fill up on sushi alone. The Tuna Poke, yakuza burger, avocado/cucumber salad, ribs, sashimi trio, scallop tempura are all consistently amazing. The scallop tempura has become a seasonal dish and I am always disappointed when it is not on the menu and hope it will become a permanent menu item again in the future."
    Dined on 7/4/2013
  • "Our evening started with a nearly half hour wait for cocktails, AFTER the order was taken. We thought we were being compted some food while we waited, but that was just a mistake a waiter made by bringing someone else's order. We had the ribs, $12, for 4 tiny ribs, the Yakuza roll, $10 for vegetable roll that should have been half that price, some scallops, again 4, and a burger, which seemed to be the popular item. This makes sense. The owner expanded and grew a hamburger chain in Portland. For Asian food here one pays Caucasian prices for Caucasian portions in a Caucasian neighborhood, ie., kind of a ripoff. For someone who does this right, go to Biwa. Stick with a burger and a beer here."
    Dined on 7/4/2013
  • "The food was very good. The drinks were outstanding! The service was a bit hit and miss -- when it was on, it was excellent; when it was off, it was missing in action. We sat indoors -- I can't wait to try the outdoors."
    Dined on 6/28/2013
  • "This restaurant is in my neighborhood and I want to like it, but I doubt I'll go back . I went with my son. They brought his salad not mine. In fact I think it went to the next table . When waitress asked how we liked our salad I pointed out I hadn't gotten mine. She responded that the kitchen sends food out as it's prepared. I got my salad for desert. It was horribly over dressed and soggy. Hardly seemed like it was fresh. More like it had been sitting on the bottom of the bowl. My son's salad was interesting combination of avocado and cucumber with an assertive dressing. I couldn't wait to leave because of the loud music. I was sitting at the open air front and still was vibrating from the sound. I admit I am not tolerant of loud music"
    Dined on 6/21/2013
  • "I really enjoyed the idea of OpenTable and was so happy to see all these great Portland restaurants participate. However, I feel like the level of service at Yakuza may have been directly linked to the fact that we were doing the June 3-Course OpenTable deal (low sales for the staff so sub-par service was provided). Our waitress didn't come greet us for drinks for about 10 minutes and she was one of the least enthusiastic servers I've encountered in Portland. She didn't provide any information on any of the dishes, just served us the courses, and didn't talk to us at all. The food was pretty creative and tasty but the service ruined the dining experience."
    Dined on 6/7/2013
More reviews ›
Larger map ›
Smaller map ›
Diners' Choice Awards
  • Northeast Portland Winners
  • Best Food
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Neighborhood Gem
Learn more ›