Hamono Sushi — Restaurant in Portland

My friend and I dined here yesterday and we had a terrible experience. We debated whether or not to leave a bad review because we really hate to do this especially to a small business but after reading several one star reviews, we felt that we had to corroborate their feedback as it was similar to what we experienced.

First off, charging your customers a 3-3.5% credit card processing fee is not only shameless it is indicative of a bad business strategy. If you’re going to charge your customers the merchant services fee that you deduct from your taxes you should: A) disclose it when they place their order or B) simply increase your prices to absorb that fee.

We ordered several things starting with an appetizer plate with Edamame and Gyoza. The Gyoza barely had any filling in it and was terribly salty. The Edamame was mostly uncooked.

The shrimp in our sushi roll tasted like it had been sitting next to a banana (I know that sounds strange) and it did not taste fresh.

My Catsu Chicken curry was extremely bland, the chicken tasted old and had a rubbery texture. The miso soup was also very bland, probably one of the worst soups I’ve ever had.

My friend ordered ramen, some kind of spicy pork with a soft boiled egg. The egg was cold and they gagged a little on it when they ate it. They were also very confused because the utensil they received to eat it with was not the normal miso spoon with chop sticks but a bowl with a large wooden ladle instead. A large ladle which was impossible to eat the noodles with. And nothing else. I had to ask for a fork and they borrowed it because the waitress didn’t bring us another. When we asked about more silverware, she pointed to a large serving spoon that she had brought earlier.

They also ordered tea. After a sip they said it tasted funny. After another sip they set it aside and did not touch it again. When I asked why later, they said it tasted metallic. They also told me, immediately upon entering the restaurant, they smelled something foul but stayed because they thought it came from outside. It did not.

Dishes came out at random times with no silverware but a single fork, the waitress was pleasant but seemed very confused, the soy sauce dispenser was empty and dirty, our waitress was surprised we needed another. The meal cost over $70 with tip and we left feeling like it was a meal that we should not have been expected to pay for. We really wanted to enjoy this adorable space with the cherry blossom decor but sadly this is our first and last time.

Please take pride in the ingredients and the food that you’re serving to your customers, saving a few bux is not worth...

New favorite place. An omakase lunch to return for, multiple times. 19 dishes today, mostly nigiri, a summer omakase somewhat unlike the pictured menu. Chef Jason (I think) had scored a bunch of different fishes from Japan, plus summer hamachi from Hawaii, obscene toro and much more, explaining them all as I nodded like a dummy. Waiter Nate explained some dishes as well. Both guys were great, super nice, encyclopedic, and this made for an excellent solo dining experience.

The fact everything wasn’t all separately plated was a blessing, and when multiple nigiri come out, just eat left to right. Fried shrimp head! Everything was beautifully seasoned as presented, although soy sauce and real (yummy) wasabi is there for you if you feel the need.

From fresh crab miso soup to the A5 Wagyu finish (which I failed to photograph, instead snarfing it down) once you’re done with the very ample omakase, you can then order almost as much as you like from the separate omakase menu. Including the toro, wagyu, and more, with limits. The rest is all you can eat.

The toro simply blew my mind. I had 4 nigiri from 3 different belly cuts, and each one will allow you to say “I can die now.” Man alive, it was life altering sushi, that fatty tuna. He asked if I wanted more, but I was really satisfied.

This is all you can eat sushi from a different plane of existence. I ordered extra toro, the uni ikura don, toro uni tamaki, yuzu salmon salad, and negitoro maki. I was perfectly stuffed. In fact, the omakase itself would be enough for a normal person, unlike an abnormal like me, without ordering extras. After all that beautiful seafood, I could have also had cheesecake, mochi, or sweet potato and ice cream, or all of them, but the orange in the yuzu salmon salad kinda made for a really nice light dessert. Plus I had to bike home. All this for $100 + tip is a deal. It was so damn good, I will go again with anyone who wants to.

Everything was absolutely fabulous.

I’m not a sushi expert, aficionado, or snob. It is possible there is technically better sushi in town. HOWEVER! This is, I think, the best sushi meal I’ve ever had. Aside from the very first time way back in 1992 at Tomoe Sushi in New York - and you never forget your first - it is certainly my new favorite.

It was bonkers. Best hunnerd bucks...

The service or should I say failure to serve us at all was terrible. We walked in on a Thursday night and asked if we had reservations and stated no, we don't and we were told it would be five minutes. No problem, we wait for them to set up the table. Two tables were taken out of the five tables available (we were eventually the third table taken). Five minutes passes by and we are seated, it's going well until it's not. We then proceed to sit there for another ten minutes looking at the menu, no drinks were asked for and not even water was given at this point. The place was not busy all. Waitress (younger asian girl with blonde hair) starts talking to the people right next to us asking about their day, we haven't even been asked for drinks yet. She proceeds to stand in the hallway in the back for another five minutes talking to a coworker. Then proceeds to start setting up the table right next to us then just walks away. Keep in mind, no one is even there to use this table. Comes back around talks to a different family this time, not even dining questions. It's been about 25 minutes at this point since we walked through the door, with no questions for drinks or any even recognition that we are there to eat. At this point we just get up and leave; we've had enough. I don't know if it was because were Hispanic or what, but there was no help for us at all, not even a water. Sad and honestly feel disrespected. We got up and left and the waiter had the audacity to snarkly say, "Thanks for coming in" as we walked out. After seating us these were the only words spoken to us the whole time. I am so glad I never spent a single dollar at this place and I hope others read this review and do the same. There's plenty of other spots in the City to eat that were happy...