Mugi

Wonderful. 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.

I would love to see more people try this restaurant.  View Less … View More

Great Sushi, set aside about half an hour of waiting time. 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.

Not only do they have great sushi, but they have hot foods as well. The tempura is great and the soy sauce with the wasabi are a perfect mix. I'd recommend getting extra wasabi, as they tend to be a little stingy with it, and give you small portions.

A major problem they have is service though. With only one waitress and Jason (the sushi chef), you might have to ask more than once for anything you want. Also, if you are more than 1-2 people, you might ask for extra plates, as they only give you 2 or 3 plates with each set of sushi you order. Another problem is that the waitress is not a genius when it comes to plates of sushi. She does not know what each sushi is, or what is inside it, so one sushi is very difficult to distinguish from another.

Onto main courses now. The main courses include full plates of starters (e.g. A Tempura Plate), which is a bigger platter of whichever food you choose. This is not recommended for more than one person, as they charge an extra $8.00 if you share a plate with someone who is 12 and above. The sushis though, are great. Whatever you ask for, be it salmon skin (fried) or unagi (eel), they'll serve it to either fried to perfection or wrapped with the exact amount of seaweed and rice. Each meal is carefully crafted under the watchful eye of Jason, a man who is very gregarious and friendly. This restaurant is definitely a great place to eat if you are looking for a not so fancy restaurant with great food. The restaurant is not good for small children, but from ages 10+, it's one of the best sushi places in Portland.  View Less … View More

Westside favorite for sushi and splendid, light-hearted fare.. In Short
This cozy place is perfect for winding down after work, but since there are only a handful of booth seats and a sushi bar, wise customers get there early. Though the menu is small, the food is extraordinarily uplifting. Sushi, sashimi and tempura are delicately proportioned and beautifully presented. Appetizers make wonderful complements--especially the chilled spinach, delicately tossed with ground sesame seeds. Other dishes include deep-fried oysters and flavorful broiled smelt.  View Less … View More

Excellent sushi, friendly sushi chef, seasonal menu. 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.  View Less … View More