Yoko's Japanese Restaurant

who ARE all these people that keep writing that yoko's service is bad, even downright surly? i clearly seem to have been eating in an entirely different restaurant for the past 10 years or so. the fish is beautiful, the service is ALWAYS friendly and attentive. i eat here often, both with just my husband and in large groups and have always been fed and treated well. if you are reading about yoko's and are afraid to go, consider the fact that if you don't get there between 5 and 5:30 on ANY night of the week, you will have to wait in line. and that's for a tiny sushi place in a pretty random part of town. i rest my case. \r \r I LOVE YOU, YOKO'S!!! more

Let me share my story. We went to Yoko's for the first time today. We were excited about our first visit; we heard the food was good. The atmosphere of the place was nice, and the miso soup was good if a bit salty. Then, one of the servers dropped dirty dishes on the floor right next to my husband. Dirty left-overs, dish pieces, food and some kind of liquids, splashed onto his arm, elbow, and hip bag. Mistakes like this happen at restaurants, but what was surprising to me was that NOT ONLY did the server not even notice, care or apologize, BUT ALSO the sushi chef said nothing even though he noticed what happened. How did we know that the chef noticed? Upset by hearing us complain to each other about it (after my husband came back from washing off the filth in the bathroom), he told us sarcastically, ""If you do not want to tip, you don't have to. Have you been to Saburo? See how you like their service."" So rather than caring about the customer or the service, the sushi chef made us (or rather, our expectations) sound like the problem instead. That was unbelievable and such a disappointment. \r \r I saw the sushi chef of Yoko's defend himself in another review on this website with the name ""sushitou"" (fraudulently rating himself and his restaurant at five stars), saying that they are ""only human"" and ""very busy."" I?m sorry, but I have been waiting tables at a Japanese restaurant for five years and working with many different sushi chefs. I have never seen a real sushi chef get flustered even though we were much busier than Yoko?s. I think if he cannot smile and talk with customers when he is busy, he should NOT work at the sushi bar, and should go make sushi in the kitchen. He blames the customers while defending his own incompetence! Sushi chefs should be talented enough to make sushi while they are SMILING and PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. Pros: Food Cons: The Sushi ""Chef"" more

After going to Yokos for the last 10 years (including the original in NW portland), I have to respond to the negative reviews on this site. For all the people complaining about the service, lighten up. They have always been friendly and on many occasions given us samples of new rolls that they are trying. They even gave us some free food and drinks when my wife and I got engaged. If you really need to be friends with the Sushi chefs or need constant attention from the servers, then this might not be the spot for you. I have talked with most of the people who work there and they are nice, but I don't go out to eat to make friends with the staff. They are always pleasant, but with the amount of Sushi that they have to crank out to keep the line moving they probably don't have time to chat up everybody at the Sushi bar. I have been to many Sushi spots in Portland (including many on the ""best of"" list) and Yokos is as good or better on most every night. I have had Hamachi a few times that wasn't as fresh as usual, but 99% of the time their fish is fresh and delicious.\r \r Go to Yokos to enjoy the company you are with, get some good Sushi, and chill in an atmosphere that is relaxed and a little different than your average Sushi spot. It wont be fast, and the staff wont ask for your myspace address, but it is a solid restaurant with some excellent Sushi. And for all of the haters giving bad reviews, good riddance. I dont like to eat around uppity, drunk, or whiney people. Yokos Rules! Pros: Great Sushi. Inventive specials. TAKAS TUNA!!! Cons: Sometimes a long wait, but just go next door and have a drink more

their sushi is not bad in general, but for the price. I would rather pay more for fresher sushi at Syun or Murata or Hiroshi. IMO nothing special, slightly better then Mio Sushi. more

let me first say that my 3 year old and i eat sushi a few times a week, but we drive downtown to do it. with the gas prices how they are i made the effort to try a more local spot... mistake! we got there at 5 and put in our order immediately. at 5:22 i asked the server how much longer it would be to get our small order out, he returned and told me it would be out in 7 minutes, although it had not been started yet. i decided that i would rather use that 7 minutes and drive to our regular spot. he said fine, and that i just owed 1.50 for my soda. i paid it, but are you kidding me? this place has 5 tables, and the server told me the guy was just busy since all of the tables filled up at the same time. save yourself the irratation and go anywhere else but here.\r also i wanted to note that if you have a child that enjoys sushi, this is NOT the place for them. the blaring music was not the issue, as much as the f word coming up is the songs on a regular basis. -not excited for my child to hear that.\r the prices are on the higher side compared to most places in the portland metro area, but i did not get to try anything so im not sure if it is worth all the hassle.\r Pros: location Cons: employees, wait time for sushi to be made, music choices. more

If you don't mind waiting an hour or two for sushi just to be talked down to in a condescending manner by the rudest servers in the world, then this is your place! It's a shame too because their food was one of the better places we have tried since moving to Portland. We were told by friends who took us there that Yoko is super nice but just has some rude employees, and it's true. \r It may be ok for some but I won't be back. \r Sorry, Yoko. Cons: worst service ever! more

Over the last 7-8 years I've spent significant time and money at Yoko's. I've always enjoyed it. Tonight, though, I got there early; my Japanese in-laws are in town, my father-in-law's handicapped, we have babies, and I wanted to bring them something they'd enjoy. On the menu, it says take out orders are charged 15% extra, and that was no problem; what was a problem was the amount of hassling I got about whether or not the sushi chef would consider a take out order, and the feeling I got that I was making a huge inconvenience for them when essentially I was just there to happily pay them for their food and service. The restaurant was empty at this time. After feeling humiliated and being told that I could only order one hamachi collar, not two--it was the special--I decided not to order at all. I won't be back. more

first of all, i don't even like sushi. my boyfriend does and he's a sweetie, so occassionaly i acquiesce and we go have some sushi. at yoko's. because it's good. there's always a wait (because it's good) and so we just walk across the street to the ship ahoy, play some pinball (that's also good... 4 super sweet games), and, in an hour or so, eat some sushi. please, let me reiterate... i don't like fish. i thinks it's gross and slimy and it stinks. only not at yokos. it's delicious and melt in you mouth fabulous. also, unlike some of these other reviewers, i have never had a bad experience with the sushi chefs. they're always busy... but also funny. maybe some folks don't like the dry humor. i do. i, too, have been in the service industry for over a decade and find their demeanor accomodating and helpful. in a fast paced environment i don't expect people to ask me how my kids are or how the new job's going... i want fast and competent service. also, when a restaurant is busy, camping is not appropriate. when everyone is waiting for upwards of an hour, i don't think it's unreasonable for someone to ask you to move it on out, 20% tip or not. there are 3 bars within 2 blocks of this place... go get a cocktail and continue your chat at any one of them. this place has great food and a no nonsense staff. i find their attitude refreshing and the food delicious. Pros: service, b*ng for buck Cons: it's a little too cozy more

My wife and I have been Yoko's devotees for a few years, but now we're looking elsewhere. They took my favorite sushi off the menu (hokki gai, surf clam) and our last time there the fish wasn't as fresh as we had become accustomed to. The hamachi was downright dowdy. And to top it off the staff seems to get less and less friendly every time we go. The sushi chef even made what I consider to be a pretty rude remark about bringing kids to the restaurant. It seems like they've started to take their customers for granted, and the fish definitely is not as good as we remember when we first started going there. Too bad. We really loved Yoko's. Pros: decent sushi Cons: not as good as it used to be. long waits. not very friendly service more

For me, dining experience is more about food than ambience, romantic setting, convenient parking, or even service. So a sushi dinner in rowdy Yoko's on Gladstone was a joyful and fulfilling experience, regardless of the waiting line and brushing elbows with other couples at the sushi bar. The fish cut was generous and superb, bringing out the freshest fish flavor. The sizable rolls were flavorful, each component stood out nicely. The only misfire was a cumbersome tepid concoction of minced tuna and avocado on a fried rice pedestal (featured special on Martin Luther King's Day). I'd recommend Yoko's to my dearest friends and send my enemies to Sin Ju in Pearl. Pros: Food, Ambience, Price Cons: Waiting List more

it's encouraging to see the number of negative reviews for this restaurant. last friday i had the worst restaurant experience i have ever had in portland there. the food was certainly decent, although nowhere near good enough to warrant the horrible customer service and lack of interpersonal skills displayed by their 'sushi chef'. \r \r after the requesite 1hr+ wait at the C-Bar, my friend and I were seated at the sushi bar. given that it was a friday nite, we had already had a couple of cocktails. i haven't seen this friend in some time and we were having a good time. evidently, that was my first mistake. my gregariousness and sincere desire to establish some kind of rapport with the restaurant staff evidently offended said 'chef'. i quickly realized he was busy and not in the mood to talk, so we let it go. after a decent (by no means spectacular) meal, we noted the kitchen staff was breaking down the line, so as we were finishing up our beverages, i tried to re-engage the guys on the line. the second-in-command was quite pleasant and approachable, but when i started talking to the prima-donna 'chef', i was offered a cab home and told not to condescend him. my friend and i were floored. we have both been in the restaurant industry for over twenty years each and were sincerely asking this fellow how his night went. to drop over $100 bucks on middle-of-the-road sushi that i could've paid a fraction for at infinitely better establishments like i love sushi or syun izakaya and then to be offended on top of it was pretty hard to swallow. \r \r obviously this person is in the wrong industry. perhaps he doesn't get out much, but it is sort of expected that the sushi chef has some sort of interaction with the patrons at the bar, and that sometimes, these folks will have had an adult beverage or two. \r \r i cannot state strongly enough that this establishment is not a recommendable destination. there is WAY too much good sushi and customer service in this town. Pros: next to c-bar Cons: horrible customer service, all the ambience of a greyhound station more

I really enjoyed the sushi here. The place is small and a little out of the way, but well worth going to. Everything was great and the staff wonderful more

While at the sushi bar, we ordered a specific items from the sushi menu and did not get them. When we pointed it out to our waiter and he to the sushi chef, she insisted that she made everything we checked. But she did not and we still had to pay! Big rip off! (Sushi is definitely not as good as Saburos.) Cons: dishonest and over-priced more

Great Sushi and Tempura, horrible customer service skills. We are regulars, not demanding, forgiving patrons. We always order plenty including alcohol and tip well. We are happy to wait at the C Bar for a table and can return afterward for more conversation. Last week we had our table less than 45 minutes, when they asked us if we could leave because they were awfully busy. Hmmmmmmmm. The impression is Yoko's is busy enough not to worry about their patrons or return business. They recently remodeled the kitchen to be more efficent, however they didn't increase the small dining room. I guess the tacktick is to turn the tables faster. We won't be returning for a while. Plenty of other Sushi Restaurants to try . :( Pros: Good Sushi and Tempura Cons: awful customer service more

Terrible customer service. Waiters/waitresses were not tentative to our needs, which is strange because there are only about 5 tables in the place. Had to wait a long time for a water refill, check, and order. Rolls were not very good. Stingy on the tuna in the rolls. No sushi variety. This place is way overrated. I guess it's a small place that has a ""following"" and may have some kind of ""vibe."" But as a restaurant, it is not good. IF you want good sushi with great service, try Sushi and Maki on 82nd. Even a simple california roll is delicious here. Cons: everything more

Wow, I'm AMAZED at some of the bad reviews I've read about Yoko's. I've been going there for a year and average at least one trip a month...so, after about 15 visits, I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on the place. I've also eaten at almost every sushi place in town, with the exception of a few really high-end joints in the Pearl and downtown. Yoko's serves, hands down, the most consistently high-quality and well-prepared sushi I've ever had in Portland. The fish is fresh and flavorful, and portions are generous. The rolls and specials are inventive without being silly. The soft-shell crab and hamachi simply cannot be beat.\r \r Yes, it's small and you'll have a long wait (this is NOT a great place for little kids or large parties). Yeah, the staff gets busy and sometimes they forget things but they're always apologetic about it. I've never been told that I can't order more food; in fact, I normally sit at the bar and the sushi chef asks me if I'd like something else every single time. Unless I'm starving or in a hurry, Yoko's is my first choice.\r \r I'm not really sure why I'm trying to convince you, now that I think about it... it just means you'll show up and make the wait longer for me. Pros: Excellent fish, nice atmosphere, great rolls Cons: Long wait more

I thought I should write a review when I saw all the negatives. Have I been going to an ""alternate universe version of Yoko's?"" I've never had a bad time there--and I've been going for over 2 years. I have to admit I've only sat at the sushi bar iteself once, but the service there was friendly and attentive.\r \r The wait staff has been pretty consistent over the past year as I see the same people when I go. There is one new face but I don't believe she was blond. Seriously guys, you were told only order one time?? Hmmmm.\r \r My visits to Yoko's (as recently as two days ago) have been characterized by good food, fast service and a pleasant time. They do tempura donburi the best I've had in the city (although I hear I have to try ""Ichidan""). My friends are always happy with their sushi, gyoza and unagi donburi.\r \r The place is small, and, sometimes the wait can be long however this is a function of the small-size of the place and its popularity.\r \r Waiting at the C-Bar rocks; so, put your name on the waiting list and go next door for a sake-izze.. Pros: Great tendon, good sushi Cons: small dining room; can wait for a table more

So, you would think that on a Monday night, when a restraunt is only open for a mere few hours a day, the wait staff might have personality and like their job. Not the blonde at Yokos. First off, ONLY ONE SUSHI MENU PER TABLE ""thats just how we do it here"" (Our friends were marking their orders and apparently they dont allow such a thing...whatever.) Also, NO PHONES ALLOWED, even if it is your birthday and your mother is calling to wish you a happy one! ( I'm sorry, but whenever a restraunt is playing very loud fun music and everyone is loud, I wouldnt expect to not be allowed to have a cell phone in view!) I never recieved my beer that I ordered and considered going to the AWESOME C BAR nex door (seriously try it!!) Everything she said and did was with a horrible attitude, not short of making faces in disgust of regular restraunt requests (honey, you're our waitress!). \r I was hoping the food and drink might make things better...but as I said before, no beer. So I was relying on the food. The rolls had good flavor, a very large variety, and the chefs were in good spirits. However, the rolls fell apart very easily making it a bit difficult, but still alright. \r I wouldn't go here again, but maybe the other writers and I have all gone on the blondes ""days of the month"" and ruined our experience. Give her another week and try it out for yourself! Pros: The C Bar next door!!! Cons: Waitress more

ok food, (not that great) but there is a blond waitress there and she was rude from the moment we walked in, so if u see her try another sushi place. Pros: the bar next door was cool Cons: poor service, parking. more

Yoko's is wondeful. It's small and has a low-key neighborhood feel. It is always packed so be prepared to wait in the bar next door for about 20 minutes before getting a seat. The appearance of the restaurant is not very impressive but the sushi is incredible. Pros: Food, relaxed atmosphere Cons: small, waiting time more