Mugi (CLOSED)

Mugi Restaurant is a small out of the way gem. It's truly the best Japanese Restaurant in town. The 2 chefs are Japanese and they make the most wonderful authentic dishes I've ever had. The sushi is fresh and tasty, but it does take a while since there is only one chef. The wait is worth it! The fish is of the highest grade and it's obvious when you taste the variety of sushi and rolls he makes. I even ate the sushi when I was pregnant because I knew it was fresh and safe to eat. I woud not take that chance anywhere else. Pros: Wonderful Food - Authentic Japanese! Cons: Takes a while for the sushi to be made more

One of the most authentic Japanese restuarants that I have been to in the Portland area. A bit pricey in terms of Asian food but is around standar... more

Coming from Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the sushi is very good, my standards were pretty high. Mugi more than matched them, with delicious food and a quaint atmosphere. Mugi is a literally a shack on the side of the street, and is very easy to miss. However, on the inside, it is actually a very authentic Japanese atmosphere. As mentioned before, if you are willing to wait 20-30 minutes, you will not be disappointed. Pros: Good food, Friendly atmosphere Cons: Long waiting time, average service more

I've been going to Mugi for 2 years or so: it is easily my favorite Portland restaurant and that's saying something. I've tried other local sushi restaurants but for quality and outstanding flavor, Mugi is my favorite. Lucky for me, it is located in my neighborhood. It is unpretentious in every way except for its food. If you enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and great food, this is a find. The sushi chef, Jason, is skilled and precise and trustworthy in his recommendations. Everytime we go, we try a new offering based on Jason's recommendation--we've never been disappointed and have definitely broadened our tase and enjoyment of well-prepared authentic, Japanese food. I hesitate to recommend it highly for one reason only--I'd hate to see crowds overwhelm the place to the detriment of its casual, wonderful personal charm. It is so nice to be greeted by name on arrival and enjoy food carefully prepared for you and you alone. Great place to eat well and leave nourished on many levels. Pros: Great food, very personable chef more

We moved here from Tokyo last year, and had been really disappointed with the quality of sushi and other Japanese dishes at some of the more popular restaurants in town. Mugi, however, is the real deal. They do it right! Everything from the appetizers to the sushi to the combination dinners tastes delicious and authentic. Pros: Authenticity, Menu, Taste Cons: Hard-to-find location, Lacking in ambience more

Being Japanese from Japan, I always find myself not entirely satisfied with Japanese restaurants. Either the tempura's too soggy, or the portions are too large or too small. At Mugi, the dinners, (you can choose tempura, saba and others for the main dish) are perfect. They have your main dish, miso soup and rice, (a given), and an array of wonderful sides that I have yet to see at other restaurants such as: sweet sesame spinach, fried tofu, cucumbers in rice vinegar, pickles and to top your dinner off, a beautiful fruit, (oranges, strawberries or canteloupe) depending on the season. My favorites are the oranges, where the chef scoops out the orange and cuts the pieces beautifully and then places them back in the peel. The details such as the seasons that Mugi pays attention to are exactly what makes Japan beautiful. The sushi is like other restaurants, but if you want authentic food that Japanese people like, order a dinner, (particularly the tempura!) at Mugi and you'll receive a wonderful, filling meal while not having to empty out your wallet. The food takes a little longer to come, but it will be worth it. more

Having recently moved to Portland, I took my husband here for our anniversary. We are looking for the highest quality & authentic (Japanese--not Korean owned) sushi in the Portland area. Having lived in Japan & California, we are very selective about sushi. The sashimi was fresh & acceptable, & the teriyaki chicken was tasty, but it is unacceptable to order a large size sake, and they do not even fill up the bottle! Overall it was overpriced for the portions you get--even the bowls of rice were very skimpy. The waitress was very nervous & inexperienced. Unlike other sushi places they close at 9:00 (we did not know), and they were rushing us to leave at 8:45 pm. It might be a better experience to go there without kids and sit at the bar and just order sushi, but we are looking for a better overall experience. Any recommendations? Pros: traditional Japanese, fresh sashimi, teriyaki sauce Cons: small portions, over-priced more

If you want the best sushi, from the nicest, most welcoming sushi chef in town go here. GET The KFS it is awsome!!! Everything about this place is great. more

If you can wait 30 minutes, you get the best Japanese food. I have tried most of Japanese restaurants in the Portland area, most of them are joke. This restaurant really really taste good, even their fruit! Cost a little more than regular restaurant, but money sure worth it! Pros: Taste, taste, taste Cons: Waiting time, parking more

I've been going to Mugi for 2 years now and service has been usually pretty good. However, in last two visits, we didn't even get our water or menu after 20 minutes of being seated. There was only 1 waiter there who looked like he didn't know what he was doing. We were so frustrated with such poor service that we decided to just walk out and never return. Sushi may be good, but it does not make up for such poor service!!!! Pros: good sushi Cons: , poor service, long wait time more

When asked about Mugi, the best the Japanese (from Japan) I know can say about Mugi is that it's open on Sundays. Food is expensive and bland in their opinion. I thought the food was ok, but not good enough to justify the price. Pros: Nice Looking, Open Sundays, Not crowded Cons: , small portions more

Mugi is the place to go when you want SUPER quality, casual, friendly staff, and if you want to try a few secret hidden gems that the chef picked up fresh that day. You won't find them anywhere else.... You can go somewhere else to get big portions and low prices, but you can't find this quality anywhere else I have been... fabulous. Pros: Friendly, Quality Cons: , a bit spendy more

Though you may find more inexpensive food elsewhere, this is one place where you can say you get what you pay for. Comparable to many Bay Area flavors and value. Japanese-American myself have had some pretty unauthentic food in P-Town-I have had to go to CA to get my fill of Japanese food. This place blows away its competition by far. Definitely a hidden gem that truely should be considered- you will leave with a big smile on your face! Pros: authenticity, value more

Still try to find the best Japanese restaurant in town? If you can wait 30-45 minutes for the BEST Japanese food you will ever taste, Mugi will be the only place to go! Highly recommended! Pros: good food, clean, very Japanese Cons: long waiting time more

This is one of the best restaurants in town. It has a great taste that is authentic. My wife (she is Japanese) and I have been here many times and always enjoy the food and atmosphere. When friends from Japan come to visit, we take them here when they want a little taste from home. I have never heard anything but compliments on my taking them here. Pros: taste, cost, atmosphere more