Bamboo Sushi is by far our favorite sushi place in Portland. But it’s bigger than Portland: in my NYC days I got used to going to fancy sushi, and generally spending around $100 a person. But the quality of Bamboo’s sushi exceeds my favorite spots in New York, and at about half the price.
Best of all, Bamboo does a bitchin’ happy hour, where the prices on sushi are downright insane. You can get the four piece nigiri set (pictured here) for $5. That’s right $1.25 a piece – for some of the highest end sushi I’ve ever had. And take a look at the salmon piece – that shit is neon (sorry for the lousy iPhone pic).
Additionally, Bamboo provides a ton of vegetarian options. I’ve always made fun of Kate for liking sushi and being vegetarian, to me sushi is all about the high quality of the fish (and yes she’s REALLY vegetarian, meaning she doesn’t eat fish, that’s called pescetarian ;)). But the vegetarian specialty rolls at Bamboo are really elaborate and yummy—enough to actually tempt someone who’s allowed to eat fish.
Finally (and no they’re not paying us for this review) the cocktails at Bamboo are amazing. I normally hate fancy cocktails—I’m reminded of happy hours spent with Kate and her friends at Bartini: “Try this one, it tastes just like strawberry cheesecake” (ew…) But the cocktails at Bamboo are really spicy, gingery and generally devoid of sweetness. My favorite is the “Gin Henson” which is basically a gin and ginger mojito.
Last but not least, for all the hippies out there, Bamboo claims to be the only sustainable sushi restaurant in the US.
I will make sure and try this restaurant during the happy hour in the near future.
I also want to support sustainable sushi restaurants. Thanks for the info.
Their happy hour f-ing rocks. Todd and I like to stalk & pounce right when they open at 5. Not cos it gets super crowded but cos we’re neurotic mo-fos