Busu Eatery Astoria — Restaurant in Astoria

My review of a local Japanese style restaurant

5/5 Stars ⭐️

"I had an excellent lunch experience at this Japanese restaurant known as Būsu! The window counter style seating allowed for a unique and intimate view of the chef Kenneth E. Booth at work.

The Shrimp miso soup bowl was exploding with flavor and skillfully prepared. Even a simple dish of grilled zucchini took my taste buds for an interstellar ride through the cosmos! The Chef made sure I didn’t run out of the lightly spicy “Gotchu-jang mayo” sauce, which really added that special touch to my experience. The service was top-notch, with great conversation and the impeccable attentiveness from the Chef. The atmosphere was immersed in Japanese culture and his kitchen modernized for optimal performance.

The menu is ever-changing (meaning it changes day-to-day)I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! And the prices are “suggested” but it’s a “donation” based pay scale. This really impressed me!

Highlights:

the wooden spoons and chopsticks. the cotton napkins Rich and flavorful soups Delicious pickled plates Local sourced meats and veggies Unique window counter seating Friendly and attentive Chef Japanese style decorating and atmosphere

Recommendations:

Try the signature Busu burger (when available) and any veggie plate either pickled or grilled. If you see kimchi on the board it’s a must-have!

Come hungry and be prepared for a delicious meal!

Will I be back?Absolutely! I can't wait to try more of the menu and experience the great service and atmosphere again."

Located on 11th street between Marine Drive and Commercial street in the heart of...

This spot is pure quality served fresh out of a tiny to-go window. Busu is a one-man show; it opens when the chef is ready to roll (and not before), which for us was a little past 6pm. Get there early because the line gets long fast.

He told us it was his first time cooking the menu (handwritten on a whiteboard, of course) headed up by a whole quail "oyakodon tribute" and including a forager's miso, kimchi congee, and kara-age morel mushrooms.

It was the best meal someone has cooked me in years. No exaggeration, I tore that quail apart with my hands on a picnic bench in 5 minutes flat and nothing but bones remained. My one regret is that I didn't even bother taking pictures because I couldn't wait to eat, and the quail was legitimately a thing of beauty.

Places like Busu are getting harder to find. This isn't the place to go if you're expecting to be coddled and catered to, although the service is genuinely good and the chef is a delight to interact with. This is cuisine without white tablecloths, triple-digit price tags, or pretense. It's good, genuinely good, so good that the food stands entirely on its own merit. I will definitely be back, and I'll stand outside that little window as long as I need to for...

One of the best kept secrets on the Oregon Coast. This is a little hole in the wall on a busy street in Astoria with a changing seasonal menu and some of the best vibes in town. There's always something new and interesting coming to the menu, including chef-foraged ingredients and private dining experiences where the chef curates a special menu just for you. Kenzo, the owner-chef, is a wonderful human being, fun to talk to & just a genuinely kind guy. Stay and chat with him - he's a wealth of knowledge of the local area. He's leaning into more vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options, which is great, but he also has plenty of meat and glutenous options for you.

If you're coming to Astoria, check the Busu Instagram to find out whether he's open & what's on the menu. You...