Akira image

Akira

Restaurant

Low-key Japanese eatery offering seasonal, homemade sushi, sake & cocktails, plus a tasting menu. People often mention great, experience, Eugene, menu, dishes, chef, time, sushi, Akira, cocktails,


Address

359 Mill St, Eugene, OR 97401, United States

Website

akiraeugene.com

Contact

+1 458-205-8288

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (216 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Thursday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Friday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Saturday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Sunday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Monday: 5 to 9 pm
  • Tuesday: 5 to 9 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (15) experience (14) Eugene (9) menu (8) dishes (8) chef (8) time (7) sushi (6) Akira (6) cocktails (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Ellen L. 10 months ago on Google
    This is the best dining experience in Eugene. 5 Star. Delicious food that looks like art on a plate. By FAR the best sushi in town. Menu: mainly just a chef's choice tasting menu with option of fish, meat, veg, or combo. Menu lists starting $ per person, so the more dishes or fancier you want it, the more you can pay. Chef Taro can customize to some dietary needs too. I can't remember how many dishes we received for the combo menu at $55 starting amount. But, everything was tremendous and I was full by the time we left. Don't expect an hour dinner here. Bring your patience.. this is a 2-hour meal. Oh - reservations only for restaurant/sushi bar. The upstairs speak-easy has a separate menu and great drinks. Loved it!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nick C. 2 years ago on Google
    Taro is a wonderful human that makes phenomenal food. I have been missing this place immensely and I am looking forward to frequently stuffing my face with chefs choice meals and washing them down with Thor's lovely libations. Akira provides a rare type of food that is hard to find in this town. It's called giggle food, when you take a bite you can't help but laugh because it's so absurdly delicious.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Y妹Y笨 2 years ago on Google
    We have been to Akira before he moved to this location. Love the atmosphere and interior design of the restaurant. The decor says a lot about the owner/chef. There’s this close relationship between customers and chef. We love the omakase, we always get different options so that we can try some varieties. The sushi/nigiri are great and fresh. The dishes are creative and delicious.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 yoreel 1 year ago on Google
    Incredible food, excellent drinks, great conversation. There is no better restaurant in Eugene!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anita M. 6 months ago on Google
    I get excited each time I pull up outside of Akira! I am a huge fan of the pork ribs dish, so tender, equally fatty, salty and divine. The hand rolls are skillfully done, with as close to perfect rice as I’ve had and not too many competing ingredients. The pickle plate is yummy, and quail eggs are such a fun addition. My fave dish there at the moment is simple, yet so amazingly fulfilling and just, yep, the bean sprouts, just the bean sprouts. I do admit, I did put a few of them in my bao the last time I ate there. Cocktails are creative and often change, which is great!!! Thank you all for creating a space in Eugene where I always want to eat!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Judy 5 months ago on Google
    My friend and I went here for an early birthday dinner, and it was so absolutely splendid. The space was cute and artistic and the food was so fast and fresh. The Dungeness crab hand rolls were divine, and the charashi bowl was so beautiful. The server was great with getting us our food out fast and fresh. Can’t wait to come back here again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Venus M. 6 months ago on Google
    Best food we’ve had in Eugene! The flavor combinations of the dishes and the cocktails were amazing! We even ate all the wasabi (it was real, not the green horseradish stuff). The atmosphere was so cool too! It has a very Japanese feel, but in an old American house.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeremiah L. 8 months ago on Google
    Dude... this place rocks. A gorgeous atmosphere, set in a beautiful old house. Beams of light drift in through broad windows. Views of the railroad district, and the sunset streaming through the aspen trees. Tasteful and comfortable wooden tables and chairs. Megan Thee Stallion gently pumping through an absurdly quality speaker. Skateboards on the walls. Service is expedient and to the point. Everyone who works there is helpful and interesting. The cocktails are AMAZING. Flavorful, and novel. I wish i coulda tried em all. The food was… impeccable… the flavors artfully balanced, the plating modest but inviting. We had the duck fried rice, lemon pepper fried chicken, dan dan noodles, smoked salmon, cocktail shrimp, scallops, and pickle plate. EVERY item tasted like my new favorite thing. Truly astounding. Like????But i must say… the SCALLOPS????!!! THE best thing I've tasted this year. Crispy, creamy, and delightful in every way. This place is my favorite. Try it. Take the fam! You will not regret it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Madeleine S. 1 year ago on Google
    Highest quality food in Eugene! Such an awesome culinary experience. We enjoyed all of the dishes and drinks that were served. (Sushi, pickled vegetables, hand rolls, sake, and cocktails) This is my new favorite place in Eugene! We will be back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Knox K. 1 year ago on Google
    Repeatedly the best experience of my life every time I get the pleasure of dining here. It is a full experience and you are stepping inside their culture. Don’t go in expecting your traditional experience, there is a focus on quality over rushing you in and out. It is a pause in time in out busy society sitting down here. You will most likely be asking “how…” with every dish. You are lucky to be in proximity to such an exclusive operation quite honestly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kelli B. 1 year ago on Google
    An incredible experience from start to finish. The food was outstanding, and the chef and staff were all great. Can’t wait to return.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Fehmi Sami Y. 4 years ago on Google
    This is one of the best places to go for sushi, and the chef will also do sashimi if you’re more into variety than volume. I highly recommend sitting at the bar for banter with the chef, which is very colorful. Everything I had was well crafted and delicious, and there was a good selection of sake, which is rare for Eugene.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rachel Z. 3 years ago on Google
    Best restaurant in Eugene in my opinion. One of those places where every single thing is going to be one of the best if not the best version of it you've ever had and you might just eat something you've never heard of before. The cocktails are also superb. The meal sequence is meticulously planned and my preferred way to eat at Akira (reserve far in advance!) although watching plates of nigiri be prepared at the bar before you eat them is also hard to beat. The chef is a super nice guy and always seems like he's having fun.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sohei 4 years ago on Google
    I had the pescatarian omakase menu and to say it was glorious would be selling it short. This was not food, this was art! This was not eating, this was an experience! Each dish is made from a magnificent selection of seafood and utilized through numerous preparations methods. All this with absolutely amazing attentive service in a great atmosphere. Taro has reclaimed his position as the best restaurateur around!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mariah �. 1 year ago on Google
    Love the food and cocktails are fun. Wonderful staff! Always have a great experience here

  • 5/5 Alicia A. 4 years ago on Google
    This was my first time going to Akira (formerly Mame), but friends of ours have sworn about how amazing it is. They serve course-style meals and it's chef's choice, so they are always coming up with new things and like feedback about their newest creations. The owner values quality over quantity in everything, and wants to share the food he creates with people who appreciate a great meal. I would highly recommend this place - especially if you love great food and fresh fish!

  • 5/5 Sahid Martin Robles B. 4 months ago on Google
    Everything was great, but the steamed bun tacos were definitely the highlight! Highly recommended.

  • 5/5 Maria C. 8 months ago on Google
    Very delicious food. The taste pallet is very diverse. My taste buds woke up from monotony of salty/sweet and enjoyed every bite

  • 5/5 Tanya M. B. 4 years ago on Google
    The. Best. Sushi. Ever. The owner is an exceptional sushi chef, and Felisha is phenomenal at serving! Will certainly be back! 😍

  • 1/5 Drew H. 9 months ago on Google
    Mediocre Asian fusion, not a sushi restaurant. Having read other good reviews, I could not have been more let down. Staff was fine. Just an awful menu and wildly overpriced. Photos of food on Google maps are not accurate at all.

  • 5/5 Denise F. 11 months ago on Google
    Nice change of pace for Eugene. Kudos to the kitchen and staff for innovative and refreshing dishes. Edgy and unapologetic. Do not bother if you want an intimate and quiet dinner. Go instead for the eclectic and electric vibes. Will be back for more but sit downstairs if we can...

  • 5/5 Kayla C. 1 year ago on Google
    What an awesome experience all around! Delicious food started rolling out right at the time of our reservation and didn't stop for two and a half hours. Great staff, strong drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. We left painfully full and still had 3 boxes of leftovers to take with us. It might be pricey, but the experience and amount of food are worth it and more!

  • 5/5 Taylor E. 9 months ago on Google
    We ate food in a converted closet, with skateboards for wall decor and Kung Fu movies playing over the bar. If you want a unique Japanese dining experience, you've come to the right place. Such flavorful and well curated food. Im excited to see what else they have in store.

  • 5/5 Dan P. 1 year ago on Google
    Tried, steam bun tacos(prime&adobo), hamachi roll, curry stew, fried shrimp, and greens. Great mix of textures and tastes. Small place, get here early.

  • 5/5 David S. 1 year ago on Google
    I have been to Akira many times, and I am always impressed with the quality, care, and thought they put into their dishes. We each ordered the tasting menu, and each dish was truly exceptional. It was a generous amount of food, too. I will definitely return.

  • 5/5 Brian C. 1 year ago on Google
    A great place to eat if you want to get a 300 dollar omekase experience for 120 dollars. Chef and team are phenomenally talented and bring a lot of personality to the experience. Everything I heard it would be and more.

  • 5/5 EDAN M. 1 year ago on Google
    Fantastic place, great food, great service! The space is funky, well curated, and fun. The server was personable, knew his menu well, and gave us good recommendations on food & drinks. Both meals were exceptional, the chef clearly knows what he is doing. The salmon was cooked perfectly and was delicious. The bibimbap was amazing with really nicely nuanced flavors. Drinks were also 10/10, plus the names are hilarious ( we had the Terror of Mechagodzilla / whiskey sour ) Open until 9 was a bonus too, most other places in the area closed at 8. 100% recommended.

  • 5/5 Thomas J. 1 year ago on Google
    Fantastic. All around a great experience. The menu is filled with excellent dishes and the cocktails are worth a visit alone. By far one of the best dining experiences in eugene.


Call +1 458-205-8288 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway

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