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Portland Sushi Revisit 🍣 Murata Restaurant

My second visit to Murata in Portland finally revealed its "secret"—the first time I blindly ordered the chef's set and was underwhelmed. This time, I called a day ahead to book 2 seats at the sushi bar (only phone reservations, remember!), and from the moment I sat down, I knew: this time, it’d be good. The adjacent parking lot is free too—just ask for a ticket when paying, such a nice touch💯 🍱 First Visit Warning: Skip the Set, A La Carte Is King First time, I followed the hype and got the "chef's set," which was "forgettable at best"—sashimi was too thin, rice in the rolls was dry, and I couldn’t recall a single dish afterward. This time, I ditched the set for a la carte sushi and eel rice, and the upgrade was huge! 🍣 Sushi Bar Freshness, Every Bite Screams "Worth It" Watching the chef craft sushi at the bar, you could tell he cared about rice temperature and fish thickness. Every order hit: Sweet Shrimp Pale and translucent, the shrimp had a natural sweetness, flesh tender as pudding. The $2 add-on for fried shrimp heads was a hidden gem! Shells crispy enough to chew, with roe mixing with oil—crunchy and rich, I regretted not getting more🦐 Fresh Salmon (Thick-Cut) Obsessed with the thickness—almost double regular sushi, pink flesh with beautiful fat marbling. The chef handed it over fresh, still slightly warm. First, the fat’s richness, then the fish’s sweetness—no soy sauce needed. Salmon lovers, this is a must! Scallop Huge scallop perched on vinegared rice, jiggly like jelly. Bite down, and it’s springy yet juicy, with clean ocean freshness—bigger than any I’ve had at buffets, and far fresher. A little wasabi, and it’s refreshing enough to tingle your tongue. Uni $40 for two pieces, vibrant orange and piled high. Scoop it up, and it’s creamy as melted butter, sweet with sea flavor—no fishiness. After eating, the chef smiled and asked "enough?" I nodded like crazy😭 Fresh Water Eel Having eel rice first made this feel "just okay"—eel charred with sweet sauce, but the rice stole the spotlight. Stick to the eel rice instead! 🍚 Eel Rice: Sauce-Coated Grains, So Good You’ll Lick the Bowl The eel rice is a "hidden king" on the menu: Eel has crispy edges, tender flesh, sauce sweet with a hint of char (not cloying!), seeping into every grain; Rice is fluffy, (absorbing) eel liver sauce’s aroma. Pair with pickled ginger, and you’ll polish the whole bowl—even scrape sauce off the sides～ 🅿️ Bonus: Free Parking Is a Lifesaver The nearby lot is free with a ticket from the restaurant—blessing for Portland’s "parking hell," especially if you’re driving. Leaving, the chef (smiled) said "try the tuna belly next time"—it’s already on my "third visit list." Murata’s magic is in a la carte sushi and eel rice. Skip the set, and you’ll see why it’s worth revisiting! 📍 200 SW Market St, Portland, OR 97201 Call a day ahead for reservations—sushi bar seats go fast～ #PortlandSushi #JapaneseFood #FoodieFind

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Portland Sushi Revisit 🍣 Murata Restaurant

My second visit to Murata in Portland finally revealed its "secret"—the first time I blindly ordered the chef's set and was underwhelmed. This time, I called a day ahead to book 2 seats at the sushi bar (only phone reservations, remember!), and from the moment I sat down, I knew: this time, it’d be good. The adjacent parking lot is free too—just ask for a ticket when paying, such a nice touch💯 🍱 First Visit Warning: Skip the Set, A La Carte Is King First time, I followed the hype and got the "chef's set," which was "forgettable at best"—sashimi was too thin, rice in the rolls was dry, and I couldn’t recall a single dish afterward. This time, I ditched the set for a la carte sushi and eel rice, and the upgrade was huge! 🍣 Sushi Bar Freshness, Every Bite Screams "Worth It" Watching the chef craft sushi at the bar, you could tell he cared about rice temperature and fish thickness. Every order hit: Sweet Shrimp Pale and translucent, the shrimp had a natural sweetness, flesh tender as pudding. The $2 add-on for fried shrimp heads was a hidden gem! Shells crispy enough to chew, with roe mixing with oil—crunchy and rich, I regretted not getting more🦐 Fresh Salmon (Thick-Cut) Obsessed with the thickness—almost double regular sushi, pink flesh with beautiful fat marbling. The chef handed it over fresh, still slightly warm. First, the fat’s richness, then the fish’s sweetness—no soy sauce needed. Salmon lovers, this is a must! Scallop Huge scallop perched on vinegared rice, jiggly like jelly. Bite down, and it’s springy yet juicy, with clean ocean freshness—bigger than any I’ve had at buffets, and far fresher. A little wasabi, and it’s refreshing enough to tingle your tongue. Uni $40 for two pieces, vibrant orange and piled high. Scoop it up, and it’s creamy as melted butter, sweet with sea flavor—no fishiness. After eating, the chef smiled and asked "enough?" I nodded like crazy😭 Fresh Water Eel Having eel rice first made this feel "just okay"—eel charred with sweet sauce, but the rice stole the spotlight. Stick to the eel rice instead! 🍚 Eel Rice: Sauce-Coated Grains, So Good You’ll Lick the Bowl The eel rice is a "hidden king" on the menu: Eel has crispy edges, tender flesh, sauce sweet with a hint of char (not cloying!), seeping into every grain; Rice is fluffy, (absorbing) eel liver sauce’s aroma. Pair with pickled ginger, and you’ll polish the whole bowl—even scrape sauce off the sides～ 🅿️ Bonus: Free Parking Is a Lifesaver The nearby lot is free with a ticket from the restaurant—blessing for Portland’s "parking hell," especially if you’re driving. Leaving, the chef (smiled) said "try the tuna belly next time"—it’s already on my "third visit list." Murata’s magic is in a la carte sushi and eel rice. Skip the set, and you’ll see why it’s worth revisiting! 📍 200 SW Market St, Portland, OR 97201 Call a day ahead for reservations—sushi bar seats go fast～ #PortlandSushi #JapaneseFood #FoodieFind

Portland
Murata Restaurant
Murata RestaurantMurata Restaurant