Best Sushi in Eugene, Oregon: Our Favorite Sushi Places

Eugene Sushi Restaurants at a Glance

The short version:

Sushi PURE: Upstairs at the Fifth Street Public Market

Sushi PURE is a five-minute walk from our office, upstairs in the Fifth Street Public Market. It's family-owned: founder and head chef Preston Shin trained under his uncle in California before opening here, and the sushi bar is known for its purple rice, a blend of black and white rice. Alongside classic nigiri and creative rolls, the kitchen makes hot Japanese dishes, and the restaurant calls itself a sushi bar and izakaya. It serves lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner every night, and takes reservations by phone.

Our pick: the Colosseum, built around lobster tail tempura and snow crab, or the Oregon Dragon.

Akira: Omakase and Small Plates on Mill Street

Akira is a small Japanese-inspired kitchen on Mill Street, a few minutes' walk from the Fifth Street Public Market. Owner Taro Kobayashi brings in six to eight or more kinds of fish a week from around the world, and the menu runs from sushi and small plates to steamed buns and bar food, with sake and cocktails to go with them. For a special night, the chef's tasting menu (omakase) is served Friday through Monday, and Akira asks for reservations. It's open Thursday through Monday evenings; Thursdays feature a sashimi rice bowl and chirashi in place of nigiri.

Our pick: the salmon roll.

Makoto Japanese Restaurant: Sushi, Ramen and a Few Korean Classics

Makoto Japanese Restaurant, on Willamette Street at the south end of downtown, covers a lot of ground. There are classic and signature rolls, nigiri and sashimi, sushi boats for a group, ramen, udon and bento, plus a few Korean specialties such as dol sot bibimbap. For something different to share, try the crispy rice topped with spicy seared salmon. Makoto opens for dinner, with cocktails at the bar.

Our pick: the spicy tuna roll.

The Sushi Spot: Classic Rolls and Good Value on Willamette Street

The Sushi Spot is a small, friendly sushi bar on Willamette Street downtown, just up the street from Makoto, and it's our pick for a good sushi dinner at a fair price. The menu is long on classic rolls, from California and spicy tuna to salmon skin and a Las Vegas roll, and the combos pair nigiri or sashimi with a roll. Salmon and tuna poke bowls round it out. It opens in the late afternoon for dinner.

If you're looking at homes for sale in Eugene, a sushi dinner downtown is a good excuse to walk the neighborhoods around it.

Izakaya Jinsei: Sushi and Izakaya Plates Near the University

Izakaya Jinsei, on Alder Street a couple of blocks from the University of Oregon campus, is an izakaya, a relaxed Japanese pub-style restaurant, with a full sushi bar. The sashimi is fresh, the hand rolls are generous, and the special rolls go well past the basics; the Ex Boyfriend is one of the house originals. The kitchen covers gyoza, chicken karaage, donburi rice bowls, ramen and udon, so it works as well for a quick lunch as for a long dinner with friends.

Izumi Sushi and Grill: A North Eugene Favorite Since 2008

Izumi Sushi and Grill sits off Coburg Road just north of Beltline, beside the North Gilham neighborhood, where most homes were built since 1990. It has served Eugene since 2008, with a full sushi bar, a roomy bar for cocktails, and plenty for people who'd rather not eat raw fish: bento boxes, tempura and dishes from the grill. Happy hour runs daily, in the late afternoon and again late in the evening.

Our pick: the Vegas Roll, a personal favorite of ours.

Subo Sushi Burritos: Sushi to Go in the Whiteaker

Subo Sushi Burritos rolls sushi into a burrito-sized wrap you can eat with your hands, and it's the most casual meal on this list. The first shop is on Blair Boulevard in the Whiteaker neighborhood and stays open until midnight Monday through Saturday; a second is on Willamette Street in south Eugene. Poke bowls and onigiri are on the menu too.

Our pick: the Bacon, with spicy tuna, salmon sashimi, tempura applewood-smoked bacon, cream cheese, cucumber and pickled jalapeño, finished with maple sriracha.

More Sushi Restaurants in Eugene, Area by Area

Our seven aren't the only sushi in town. If you're new to Eugene, here's where else to look:

• Downtown: Sushi Station Japanese Restaurant on East Fifth Avenue near the market, and Sushi Ya on East Eighth Avenue.
• West Eugene: Kasumi House and Sushi Island, both on West 11th Avenue.
• Whiteaker: Tonton Sushi on Van Buren Street, for sushi donuts and bubble tea.
• Springfield: Oishii Sushi on Pioneer Parkway East, for conveyor-belt sushi. For the rest of Springfield's food, see our guide to restaurants in Springfield.

Good Sushi, Close to Home

Showing homes across Eugene means we eat all over town, and these are the sushi places we recommend most. Downtown, near campus, off Coburg Road or in the Whiteaker, there's a good one close by, and we're glad to show you homes in Eugene near your favorite.