Perfect for Dates & Late Nights! š£š¹š
Yesterday, I found out Portlandās new fusion spot Ginza was having its first soft opening⦠and they were cutting a whole tuna live! I rushed over and was instantly amazed by the crowd around the tunaā the chefās knife skills were sharp, slicing through the bright red tuna layer by layer. They even passed out small bites for free, and the melt-in-your-mouth fat made my expectations skyrocket š! The owner said the grand opening is in two weeks, but this soft opening surprise already made me want to come back. š Super Convenient Location: Eat, Shop, Stay Easy! Itās hidden in downtown, just a few minutesā walk from Pioneer Squareāfinish your meal and head straight to tax-free shopping (shoppers, rejoice! šļø). Next door is the once-viral Thai restaurant Farmhouse Kitchen, so you can even compare Thai flavors if you want (but Ginzaās fusion vibe is way more unique!). Best of all, the restaurant connects to the hotel behind itāif youāre staying there, just go downstairs for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a nightcap at the bar. No more wandering for food late at night! š½ļø Soft Opening Experience: Dim Sum/Thai at Noon, Omakase at Night I was worried āThai-Japanese-Chinese fusionā might be a messy mix⦠but I was totally wrong! Some dishes werenāt available yet (like milk tea and my favorite fishāthey hadnāt prepped the freshly cut tuna), but the owner was so kind that he invited us back for omakase that night. Who could say no to that š„¹? š Noon: Dim Sum + Thai DishesāEvery Bite Delights We ordered a few available dishes, and every one impressed: Crystal Har gow (Shrimp Dumplings) š„ļ¼Total āhidden gemā! The skin is super thin, and the filling is plump with shrimp. Itās bouncy (like a little jelly!) and way better than frozen dim sum from regular spotsāyou can taste the sweet shrimp in every bite; Miso Black Cod šļ¼I didnāt expect much, but I ate the whole plate! The cod is so tender it falls apart with a fork, coated in a light miso glaze thatās sweet and savory (no fishiness at all). Even the veggies underneath soaked up the sauce; Thai Hot Dishes š¶ļøļ¼We tried classic Thai stir-fries, and theyāre lighter than most Thai spotsāno salty overload, just balanced herbs. The Thai-style shrimp appetizer (the ownerās recommendation!) was juicy and perfectly spicy-sour; Thai Fried Rice šļ¼Fluffy, non-clumpy rice with a hint of fish sauce. Itās loaded with shrimp and egg, making it a satisfying main without feeling heavy. š Night: Omakase PerfectionāChefs from Vegas & NYC! The pre-booked omakase lasted from 7 PM to 9 PM, and every bite was a āsushi loverās dreamā! The two chefs are total prosāone from Vegas, the other from NYC: Insanely Fresh Ingredients āØļ¼The tuna we watched get cut that morning finally arrived! The otoro (fatty tuna) melts in your mouth, with rich oil that doesnāt feel greasy. My favorite uni + sweet shrimp was next-levelāuni tastes like āocean cream,ā and the shrimp is plump and sweet; Truffle Magic šļ¼The chef shaved fresh truffle over the sushi, and the aroma filled the table. Mix it with rice, and itās pure heaven; Super Thoughtful Details ā¤ļøļ¼I told them āno wasabiā beforehand, and they remembered every time. Once they forgot, they apologized immediatelyāthey even explained where each fish came from, making the meal feel special. š” Practical Tips Before You Go! Hoursļ¼Limited dishes during soft opening; grand opening in 2 weeks. Open until midnight on weekendsālate-night sushi lovers, this is your spot! Reservationsļ¼Book omakase in advance! Seats are limited, and the chefs canāt take walk-ins easily. Service & Timingļ¼New staff are still learning, but theyāre super attentive. Food comes out in 15-30 minutesāno long waits. Parking & Safetyļ¼Street parking available. Downtown Portland can be sketchy at night, but this spot is far from the busy coreāsafer than most areas. Priceļ¼$30-$100 per person. $30+ for dim sum/Thai at noon, ~$100 for omakaseāgreat value for the quality. Vibeļ¼Elegant warm lighting + wooden decor. Perfect for dates or holidaysāphotos turn out amazing! Ginza is honestly hard not to loveāit has Thai spice, Japanese freshness, and Chinese comfort, all done well. If youāre staying nearby, shopping downtown, or craving late-night omakase, donāt miss this new spot! š Ginza - Dim sum . Sushi 875 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209 #PortlandEats #OregonFood #PortlandFoodie #PortlandNewSpot #FusionFood #OmakasePortland #ThaiJapaneseFusion