Murata Restaurant

I have dined at Murata on several occasions, and agree they have excellent sushi. However, this week I attempted to stop for dinner before attending the ballet, and we were refused a table, even though there were empty tables in the restaurant. It was an hour before show time, and we were only looking for a quick bite to eat. No explanation was given, just that they could not help us. I will not be back. Pros: Sushi Cons: Rude service more

My guest & I spent $145 on sushi and sashimi. The fish was superb and better than most places in Portland. The service is horrifyingly bad. They ignore you. They never once offered to pour tea for me and I had to ask over five times. I read on another sushi website a similar comment which is that if you have a problem, the owner will refuse to talk to you. While the sushi tasted great, the presentation was haphazard; the waitress would pay attention to Japanese customers only;owner refused to hear me out. I'm in a quandary as I haven't found sushi as good in Portland; maybe I'll just tip accordingly. Pros: Sushi, Parking Cons: Service, Price, Price more

Murata clearly stands out at the finest Japanese restaurant in Portland. The service can be slow at times and the restaurant gets crowded during the lunch hour. The quality of their authentic Japanese dishes such as Nigiri Sushi and Sashimi are absolutely top notch. Rainbow rolls and other non-traditional cusine is not their strong suit. Pros: Excellent sushi, Fish is very fresh, More than just sushi Cons: Slow service, Sometimes crowded more

I dined in November, 2005. The rainbow roll was made with SMOKED salmon instead of the fresh salmon that every other quality sushi restaurant uses. I asked the waitress about it and she bluntly said that I needed to request fresh salmon otherwise I wouldn't get it. I have been to dozens of sushi restaurants all over the country and have never heard this before. The rest of the sushi was good but as a true sushi lover, I cannot recommend Murata. more

There is nothing fancy or gimmicky about this place. If you like real japanese cuisine, with the freshest and best sushi in Portland, then this is the place. There are always lots of Japanese businessmen and tourists which gives the restaurant an aura of authenticity. The non-sushi items are also phenomenal. Chef Murata always personally prepares the sushi, and his experience and knowledge really shine through. And it's actually priced very reasonably. Pros: best sushi in town, great service, priced reasonably more

I ordered my sushi/sashimi to go because this is a tiny restaurant and better suited to adults (I have a 5 y.o. with a lot of energy). The nigirizushi (salmon) was pretty good, but the massago rolls weren't rolled tight. The shrimp tempura roll was a disappointment; the coating was soggy and oily only 5 minutes after we received our food. The rice was overcooked. I would like to try this restaurant again, though, and sit at the bar and order more authentic offerings. The waitresses and the sushi chef were very hospitable. Pros: nigirizushi, service, parking Cons: sushi rolls more

It's often difficult to differentiate a great Japanese restaurant from a bad, but this one seems to be a cut above the others I've tried: Mio Sushi, Syun, Misohapi, Bush Garden, Koji, I Love Sushi, and Saburo's. Try the soba topped with dried seeweed. Also recommend spicy tuna rolls and cold soba noodles with dipping sauce. For you adventurous types, the California rolls have real crab. Prices are high, but worth it. Pros: Great service more

This place has some of the freshest sashimi in Portland. I've been here at least 5 or so times, and not once has any of the nigiri been less that sparkling. All the standard fish are very fresh. Unlike most japanese restaurants in Portland, they offer dishes beyond sushi/tempura/teriyaki, such as chazuke, rice served in green tea. Or zosui, savory rice porridge. The space is small, with three tatami rooms in addition to the main dining area. The space however feels a bit like a fish bowl, being located in an office building, but the decor is thankfully restrained and not too corporate looking. Really good fish. Pros: very fresh fish, friendly service, parking Cons: small space, pricey more

Multiple Bad experiances have soured me on this resaurant. Food can be good but restaurant is too small and kids seem to run wild. DO NOT TAKE A DATE HERE or expect to have conversation. Even semi-private shoji rooms can be tainted as there are two tables to each room. Pros: Varity Cons: Expensive, Crowded more

the food here is great but i'm kind of a budget shopper...not a great place for cheap eats... Pros: service, food, atmosphere Cons: value more

Truly the best fish in Portland, fresh and large portions, prepared beautifully. We've had the opportunity to have both grades of toro as well as abalone here. For really wonderful food, great authentic atmosphere, and a neat experience, Murata can't be beat. Pros: Awesome fish more

From all the Japanese retaurants that I have been to in Portland, Murata rates as one of the highest. All sushi bars order their fish from the same company (Pacific Seafood). Therefore what percentage of the cut used by the restaurant in making sushi will determine the quality differences. The conveyor style restaurants use almost 100%, therefore can offer you lower prices. Murata provides quality cuts, therefore you should expect to pay a little more. Pros: Quality, Atmosphere Cons: Slow service more

The highest quality fish I have had in Portland, in a traditional Japanese setting (mat rooms and all!). There are many fantastic dishes at Murata, especially the oysters in ponzu sauce, the spicy tuna roll (the best of I have had in Portland), the scallops, and the sashimi. It is a crime not to order sashimi at Murata, as the fish is so perfectly fresh. The prices are high, and the service is slow. It sometimes feels like they've forgotten you when you're in one of the side rooms. However, it is well worth the downfalls for the fantastic food, as far as I am concerned. As a side note, the dividers between mat rooms can be removed to provide a space for large parties (I would say about 16 people). Pros: Amazingly fresh fish, Traditional mat rooms, Easy to park Cons: SLOW Service, Overpriced more

Murata used to be the best place to eat sushi in town. But since Terry-san left there is no fun to chat with chef about the specials of the day. Service is very slow and not fridendly. This place is very clean and fish is very fresh. But the prices are a little bit higher than other sushi restaurants around Portland. more