Sushi Hana

Sushi Hana is a “bargain” sushi eatery with locations throughout Portland and Southern Washington. When I first drove into the SW Pacific Highway location, where the restaurant is adjacent to an old PetCo and several other miscellaneous chain retailers, I was less than enthused. However, upon entering Sushi Hana, I saw a large number of customers seated around a rotating belt with a number of colorful plates going by and grew hungry. My friend and I were seated quickly, as there is enough space around the belt to keep people moving in and out swiftly, so long as the number of persons eating in your party is 3 or less. When larger groups are present, it’s often hard to get seated because there are only three booths at that location.

Initially hesitant to pick up a plate that was listed as $4.00, I quickly realized that everything on the menu was $1.00 to $1.50 during “happy hour”- which actually lasts all day. Thus, I went through about four or five plates of nigiri and mini maki rolls in my half-hour dining at Sushi Hana. Overall, the fish wasn’t bad, especially given the price of the plates. Some of the rolls are cooked (or fried) and many include various “Westernized” takes on sushi- including sriracha-esque sauces or tempura shrimp. I doubt that the fish used in the restaurant was caught the day before, but I still think that given the price of each plate, the quality is comparable or exceeds the value paid for each plate. There are also a handful of vegetarian rolls available for those who don’t eat fish, and other non-sushi items include typical Japanese fare such as miso soup, edamame, gyoza, and udon.

Overall the ambiance of the restaurant is what you’d expect- kind of loud, busy, and often hurried in evenings around dinner time. The staff is always very friendly, helpful, and accommodating, as are the people who are in the center of the rotators, who often take orders. While I am no sushi connoisseur, I feel that Sushi Hana is a good place to go if you are pretty hungry and don’t want to spend a ton of money eating fish that someone caught yesterday.

By Jessica Yeh

Pros

• Law School Budget Sushi
• Very friendly staff
• Large selection of food

Cons

• Not the freshest fish
• Location is pretty far out of the way
• Might have a wait if you have a larger group