It wasn't bad sushi. It was fine. The presentation was a little better than the actual food. It was relatively cheap for lunch, though. I only had the sushi. I can't comment on the other parts of the place.
(3)
Michael P.
We go here quite a bit. Te sushi is good, the tatami room is quite comfortable. My wife does not eat sushi and there is plenty on the menu for her.
(4)
Marshunda S.
I know sushi is expensive...but REALLY?!?!? I was not impressed with the sushi there. I have been three times just to make sure that I wasn't being too jaded. I ordered three different sushi plates....not my cup of tea. I think I was paying for the interior decorating over the taste of the food.
(1)
Jason D.
Paula Deen is now making Southern-style sushi. More on that in a minute. First off, the Udon noodle dish with shrimp was great. Additionally, the beef teriyaki lunch box was very good as well, with many different items making for a great meal (comes with the beef teriyaki, a sushi roll, salad, tempura, a fried crab dumpling and a fried roll). However, we also ordered the Casco Bay roll and the Spicy Scallop roll and they could have only have been made by Paula Deen. Each roll was absolutely smothered in mayonnaise. I grew up in the South, and I put mayonnaise on things most people wouldn't, but eating these rolls was like eating a bowl of mayo with rice thrown in for texture. The rolls were so heavy handed and in complete contrast to what I enjoy about sushi, which is the clean, bright, crisp flavors. I couldn't actually taste the other ingredients. And on a side note, I realize it was a lazy day at the restaurant (being MLK day), but the waitress always seemed to be missing for extended periods. I would come back to try the hibachi, and for more entrees, but I'm unlikely to order sushi from here again (sorry Paula), especially since there is better & cheaper sushi in the area.
(3)
nicole w.
Usually go to Sapporo but it was closed so we went here for lunch and I was very disappointed. The food was boring and not well prepared. The salmon teriyaki was fatty, as was the pork belly, which was served on a 'bed' of raw onion which added nothing to the dish. Nothing in the bento box tasted good -- the tempura was flat, the salad was old and the agedashi tofu, one of my favorites, tasted like cardboard. The service, like the food, was underwhelming.
(2)
Jay H.
The presentation at Fuji is second to none. I feel bad eating the food because it looks so pretty on the plate. Okay, I don't feel that bad, because it's also darned tasty. The best thing I've eaten there was a tempura fried jalapeño stuffed with tuna and cream cheese. I'm afraid it was a special, so I may not experience its magnificence again. The food is good, the service is good, and the atmosphere is good. The only thing keeping me from giving that fifth star is the caliber of the other sushi restaurants in Portland. That being said, I've always gone home from Fuji very happy.
(4)
Kayti C.
We had their calamari first and it was delicious so we were expecting a great dinner but their sushi and rolls were very sad. They didn't even use real crab in a lot of their rolls. Meh, wouldn't go back. Especially since it's a bit on the pricier side.
(2)
Chris C.
I went here twice and ordered the sushi sashimi combo on both occasions. The fish is fresh and the sushi filling. The wasabi is so-so. However, definitely try out the white tuna. Will come back again, and maybe try out different menu items. They have Kirin beer.
(4)
Fred S.
My wife and I have eaten at Fuji several times, we've done the hibachi tables, the dining room, and the sushi bar; each a fine experience, for the most part. The majority of the time the food at Fuji is quite fresh and very well done. I prefer to eat sashimi and Cathy prefers sushi rolls, so we stick with that (except for at the hibachi). There are other items on the menu, which always look nice when passing by on the way to another table. Most of the time your sushi/sashimi will be beautiful, but sometimes the b-team is behind the bar, which happens on occasion. The hibachi tables are a blast, but you really need to be in a group of four or more to get the most out of it. If they ask you if it is OK to have strangers join you, say yes, it is totally worth it! The chef makes everything in front of you to order, very fresh and full of buttery goodness. They also put on a show for you, juggling spatulas and throwing food in your mouth, It can get as crazy or be as reserved as you want, the chef can usually read the group. Don't forget to tip! In all of the years I've gone to Fugi the faux-Japanese decor has never changed, it is broken up into seperate rooms: A main dining room, one of those japanese-style rooms where you sit on the floor with your shoes off, the hibachi room, and a lounge/bar with a big TV. The staff is usually very friendly, a few of them have been there for a long time and will remember you by name after a while. When we were there on our anniversary last year, our waitress bought (yes, bought!) us a beautiful desert, after serving us a wonderful dinner. Overall Fugi in Portland is a fine place to get a nice meal, take the family and grab some hibachi, the kids will love it!
(4)
Daniel D.
Wandering Portland while on tour, my drummer and I got it in our heads that we needed sushi quickly for takeout. Fuji may not look like a takeout place upon first glance, but they were very accommodating. The time from order to sushi-in-hand was only about ten minutes. The hostess was very nice and helpful in explaining which fish was local and where it all came from. My crab Cali-roll was incredibly fresh as was my tekko roll. Very good seaweed salad as well. I read their menu while waiting, and they do tempura, noodle dishes and all kinds of Japanese and Korean dishes. Overall, Fuji was very friendly and very tasty, with very reasonable prices. When you get tired of clams, lobster and chowder, give Fuji a try.
(3)
Kellie B.
I am absolutely shocked to see that Fuji doesn't even have 4 stars! This is some of the best and freshest sushi i have ever had! I used to live in Portland and went to Fuji a lot. In february i was visiting and i tried the Hibachi downstairs for the first time and it was amazing! I got shrimp and scallops! yum yum yum
(5)
Chris P.
One chicken katsu and one order of sashimi, down the pipes! Portions were pretty generous here, and I was happy to find that the waitstaff was attentive, filling my water no less than five times. I had been out walking all day in the sun during the hottest day to date in Portland! The katsu was two large breaded pieces of chicken and tasted just like my friend Miki made it at home. It was served with some cabbage and rice. The sashimi was also pretty good, though we left the fish eggs (I have issues with weird textures). Cute setting, great location (if you're a tourist, I suppose). It's on Exchange Street amongst all the tourist hoo-ha.
(4)
Kathy K.
Meh. It might have been a bad day to visit. I may try again. Service was slow and inattentive. I enjoyed the spicy shrimp soup and ordered a shumai app. The soup came, I finished it and had to tell the mgr I still needed my shumai. Even after the waitress asked if I wanted my two dishes together. Anyway, draws in a good lunch crowd and I would like to give it another go. Good location.
(3)
Derik D.
Great fish quality, some unique dishes (like the Casco Bay), and good service. Worth it if you love sushi.
(4)
Amy C.
New owners means I won't be going back. So sad it just isn't as tasty as it used to be. I'm majorly bummed out.
(2)
Justin H.
Wonderul Yaki Udon, sushi, and miso soup. Good service. I'm a happy boy.
(4)
Daniel C.
I have found my new place for sushi. I was a frequent patron of King of the Roll, but decided to give Fuji a try. The atmosphere is great on the inside, real authentic, unlike King of the Roll. For starters we tried the seafood dumplings, served with a spicy mustard. They were excellent, not gummy, and had nice seafood flavor. We also sampled the edamame. Not much to say about these, served steamed and salted, very simple but good. For sushi, I sampled 4 different ones. Among them were the Casco Bay, friend yellowfin and avocado. Old Port, crispy salmon skin, Spicy Yellowfin, and Eel sashimi. The best were the yellowfin and eel sashimi. All were very fresh tasty and presented beautifully. The Casco Bay was not what I was expecting. The whole roll was deep fried, not just the tuna, it was also covered in a mayonnaise type sauce. Overall, the Fuji is now my go to sushi restaurant. The food was fresh and reasonably priced. However, some are the mixed drinks (Mai Tai) turned out to be very strong. Maybe it was a fluke thing. Note, this is a review of just the sushi part of Fuji, I have yet to be to the Hibachi side of the restaurant.
(4)
Amanda V.
I believe that Fuji was only my second experience dining out for Japanese food. I went on a Thursday night with five other people, and we were all very pleased with our meals. Quick service for a group that large! I'm excited to go for Hibachi some night, but didn't because I feared an extreme price jump if I went downstairs. I ate upstairs and ordered Yasai Udon (Udon noodles and vegetables in vegetable broth) for $12. I would suggest that a veggie dish have more vegetables, but overall, it was pretty tasty. Crisp and filling, really not a bad dinner option for a group!
(3)
D L.
I have to say, the service here was some of the worst service I have ever experienced. My friends and I went to Fuji to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. Out of our party of twelve, three had been to the Hibachi tables before and absolutely LOVED Fuji before this. The meal started horribly when we were served a Fuji bowl, a $40 Fuji bowl, that was all sugar. We told our server that we did not want them to comp the drink, but that we would prefer if they would simply make it less sweet. Our server returned by saying that they would not comp it or fix it, offered us dessert instead, and said that the reason for this was that we had complained about a Fuji bowl previously and had it comped. The majority of us had never been here before, while the rest of us had been there once before and loved the drink we were served, so this was completely false. When we asked to speak to the manager, our server replied with, "the bartender is the manager". Afterward, a couple of people from our party chose to speak with the manager/bartender and asked for the name of the owner, which he refused to give, and they also asked for his name, which he also refused to give. By the end of the meal, our entire party witnessed the staff talking rudely about us and actually watched an employee tell the hostess at the front desk not to give us the owner's name or contact information, while laughing. To top it all off, they added 20% gratuity to all of our bills to ensure that we would tip them well. The only positive to our experience was that we had an incredible chef who was able to lighten the mood a little bit. Fuji, you can ensure that all twelve of us, eight of whom work in the restaurant industry, will never return.
(1)
Helen B.
I have to say, our excursion to Fuji last Saturday ended up being one of the more unpleasant restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. We were a 7-person party with a reservation for one of the hibachi tables. Overall, we had a pleasant experience: We were seated reasonably promptly, the chef was attentive and competent, the food was a tad bland but overall decent (overpriced though, for what you get), and the waitstaff was courteous (with the exception of overhearing how the bartenders don't wash out their drink mixers after each use - yuck!). However, it's how they handled the end of the meal that prompts me to give a highly negative review. It was fairly obvious that they were hustling to get us out of there, as the hibachi tables are in high demand, especially on a Saturday evening. The busboy even took our waters away! But, one of our party was in the restroom and we weren't about to leave without her. So after about 5 minutes after we paid the check, the same busboy approached us and asked us to leave! He literally said, "We need to ask you to leave so that we can give your table to someone else." Again, we know that they want to turn the table over, and were in the process of leaving, but this took us all aback, especially after we had just collectively spent $400 for dinner. No putting it nicely, like, "We hope you enjoyed your experience, yada yada yada - just basically, 'get out!'" WTF? The fact that this probably comes from management but they leave this to the busboy tells me something about the psychology of the management as well. So, if you want to be treated like you're moving along a factory line, for overpriced bland food, then by all means go to Fuji! If not, maybe try out one of the many other Japanese restaurants that Portland has to offer, where they treat you like an actual human being. UPDATE: I sent a letter to the management after this happened, because I think they should know why people aren't going to come back to their businesses. I got back some kind of strange form letter that didn't really address anything I had said, or said things that had to be untrue (e.g." we have fired the bartender who doesn't clean out the drink mixers"). Oh really? Even when I didn't give any description of who the person was? Unless they decided to go ahead and fire all their bartenders, which seems unlikely. But, in the end I wasn't surprised - this is clearly a very poorly-run establishment.
(2)
T.H. J.
Fuji gets lost in the shuffle because it has been around a long time and Yokasu and Miyake generally knock your underpants off with their freshness. But, give Fuji credit where it is due. The sushi is a cut above, and...drumroll please..their Korean offerings, especially the BiBimBap will satisfy you everytime. very fresh kimchi and pickled vegetables are served with the BBB.
(4)
LLoyd P.
I had lunch about two weeks ago and the food was excellent, the service was very good and the price was also very reasonable for the food that we had. I highly recommend this restaurant if you like Japanese food.
(4)
Abby F.
This place used to be the premier joint for excellent sushi and excellent sukiyaki. Over the years, it's fallen off a bit but still offers decent food. Try the steak tataki (like carpaccio) and the sukiyaki. The service is hit-or-miss.
(3)
Angi B.
Great food. Skip the vegetarian sushi options (pretty tasteless) and go for the noodles (excellent). Great wine and saki options.
(4)
Megan D.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Fuji! Although, I don't like sushi, I have gone to Fuji for lunch, dinner and Hibachi. The hibachi is the best around, the drinks are good and the chefs are fun! Reservations HIGHLY encouraged, and even then you usually end up waiting for quite some time.
(5)
Lindsay M.
This spot is absolutely huge! You can't tell from the outside, but when walking in, there's a main floor and then a downstairs area with a bar and more seating. I went for lunch with a friend and we got the Hawaiian bomb roll, the golden calamari roll, pork gyoza and another sushi roll I can't remember right now haha but everything was so good!! Extremely fresh, filling, and the Hawaiian bomb definitely packed some heat!! I also was in love with the calamari; crispy and not too chewy. The service was just ok. Not a personable girl, seemed really quiet/shy, and the bathroom was a walk to get to, but besides that, I'd definitely come back for the food! So delicious
(4)
Leah W.
I have been to Fuji many a time in my life and I am sure I will return. My parents really love eating here and for some reason, my non foodie friends are obsessed with this place and hibachi. A couple of things: -The food is solidly good. not great. not mind blowing. It is nice that this place is fairly consistent and I know what to expect. This is true for the hibachi, the sushi, and the food from the regular kitchen. It is one of the only places where you can get actual Bibimbap in Maine and not want to immediately cry. I would say that the food gets a four star for quality and a three star for authenticity. -The service is meh. While the hibachi chefs are mildly entertaining, the rest of the staff leaves something to be desired. While not outright rude, I have never (not exaggeration) had a server or host who showed any enthusiasm or emotion other than bored ice princess. This is definitely a two star deal. -The atmosphere is okay. I see where they are going with the fake Asian decorations, the fake trees, etc. The bathrooms are clean, however, and the building looks well kept. Overall, I don't hate it and I will be back when friends or family demand it. I wouldn't personally chose this as my favorite Asian or otherwise restaurant, but I have no negative feelings.
(3)
Michaela M.
Convenient place to pick up to-go sushi, and the price isn't bad either. I always get exactly what I want and I never have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes. I've done the hibachi downstairs a couple of times. Also very good, and easily priced. The girls there are always super friendly and I get great service whether I'm doing take-out or dine-in. One concern: last time I went in, I had to wait a very long time for my credit card to process. Like ten minutes of me standing there waiting for their machine to read my card. And it wasn't just me- there were other people waiting too. The servers said that this happens often because their equipment is so old but the owners don't want to spend money for new stuff. I almost had to say forget about it and go back to work. I will continue to go but I hope for the server's sake they update their equipment!
(4)
Beatrice T.
Have eaten here since I was a kid and living in Maine. My mother is Japanese and we have gone many times as a family. Good sushi selection, many options. I would recommend any of the raw choices. Specialty/chefs choice are good. Saketini pairs very well, as the cucumber infusion is refreshing.
(5)
Alyssa H.
We should have taken the hint and turned around and walked out when it took, no joke, over ten minutes for someone to even acknowledge us standing at the hostess stand. No hostess was in sight and the multiple waitresses and sushi chefs walking by did not even say a word. Finally, a waitress noticed us looking undoubtedly annoyed and sat as at a table. Our waitress came over looking panicked and sweaty. She gave us water, but then did not acknowledge our table for another twenty minutes. We finally flagged her down and she gave a quick apology, or more like a plea for us to understand that she as very busy that night. At this point, we were clearly ready to order drinks, apps, and entrees. The food itself was really good, which was a pleasant surprise after our experience this far. We got a rainbow mako roll and another that had shrimp tempura in it. Both were great! We also got two dinner boxes which were both eaten happily. However, service once again reared it's ugly head towards the end of our meal. A friend dropped her chopstick and asked for a fork instead, but after ten minutes or so, we realized it was never coming and had to go ask the hostess, as our waitress was nowhere in sight. Then, once we got the check, we had to find someone again to give our credit card to because again, our waitress was nowhere in sight. I hate giving only two stars on a restaurant whose food was actually good, but unfortunately service is a huge part of the dining experience and it certainly had a negative impact throughout our dinner.
(2)
Brandon K.
My family friends and I came to fuji's. It was my first time while they are regulars. Walking in I noticed the the awesome decor that consisted of paper lantern lights and paper walls that made it seem you were actually dining in Japan. My friends recommended the wild pork belly and I happily obliged. it was awesome! It had the right blend of spices and the flavor was extraordinary. It is a pretty small portion so if you're tryna get flu I recommend getting it as a side. I also ordered a my tai which is putting me on my ass. Still good doe. Peace.
(5)
Marco t.
Jack and Ken at the bar are awesome! They try and "one-up" each other which does two things: make the sushi quality and presentation sublime. Also, it makes for a memorable eat. I value their attention to detail, their attention to the customer. In my last two visits, ken and jack have educated me on the craft of sushi and the other other traditional styles of this japanese cuisine. I have a lot of sushi-- west coast, east coast and these guys made my two days there at Fuji Japanese Restaurant in Portland, ME a memorable one. Come in, sit at the bar, have these guys surprise you. It's rewarding.
(4)
Becca B.
This place is fantastic! Has the best looking atmosphere and the food was excellent and with great portions. Ended up getting a vegetable sushi plate and we all shared a scorpion bowl. Very delicious. Will make it a point to return if I am in the area.
(4)
Lisa B.
6:30-7pm on a Friday night in winter. It was not busy here. I was the only person in the sushi bar. There were clearly some new hires as the hostess/server and a new guy behind the sushi bar stocking the chefs up that hadn't even been there long enough to understand the head chef's accent. It was awkward. With the new people. The head sushi chef was easily frustrated by the new people's understandable mistakes. It wasn't like it was super busy and stressful to cause the short temper. I felt borderline stalked bec the new girl behind the hostess desk kept walking by but wasn't confident yet. I get it. But the sushi chef complaining to the other server about a mistake she made entering a change to an order in the computer was a little unprofessional to do right in front of a customer sitting at the bar. The poor kid behind the sushi bar was so confused by the other sushi chef's accents at one point, I felt really bad for him. But he got in a groove slicing things and that resolved. Now for the sushi. I had the sushi regular that comes with 7 pieces of nigiri sushi, chef's choice and a California roll. It wasn't bad. But I wasn't blown away. And towards the end, I felt like the sushi pieces were biting me back because almost every single one had some hidden wasabi surprise inside. That may be some people's thing, but not mine. It was so much, I started wondering if they were trying to cover up the taste of the fish.... I really wanted to like this place a lot. It was a close, easy place to walk to from where I live. It looks so cute as is near some of my favorite shops downtown, but this experience was so very disappointing.
(2)
Alex K.
I've been coming to Fuji since 2007 consistently and I have to say that as of late it has been letting me down. There was something lack luster about the food the last time I was in there, it just wasn't the same. Their spicy tuna roll is mushy instead of an actual piece of tuna with some spicy sauce. So now I just order a tekka roll and ask for a side of their spicy mayo.I will be back to give them a try because I just can't let their spicy scallop roll and avocado salad go. Also, If they bottled their house dressing I would buy it.
(3)
Andrew K.
I have not visited the sushi restaurant. I've only come here for the hibachi. The food I think is excellent as it may very well be the best fried rice I've ever had. I've had everything on the teppanyaki menu except for the lobster so far. I have been impressed with the depth and flavor without a large number of seasonings and ingredients. Sometimes simple is just better. The teriyaki chicken, salmon, ny strip, and filet are all cooked well and moist. The chefs do a good job getting a perfect medium rare on the beef. It's a bit loud and crowded during a busy night. I wish it was in a larger space, but in the old port loud and crowded is usually the norm anyways. The experience itself is very entertaining as the chefs make an attempt to engage everyone at the table and keep everyone entertained. It's still fun to watch even after multiple visits. It's the perfect night out for a birthday party or just with a group of friends.
(4)
Mike S.
Oh Fuji, you always confuse me with what I want to rate you... Lets start with the food -- I haven't explored the sushi very much here but tried a piece of friends sushi on occasion. Nothing is every impressive looking or tasting and the selection is typical for a middle end sushi place. Lets put it this way, I don't come here for sushi, and wouldn't suggest this be your sushi go-to. The hibachi food is typical in flavor, look and variety. It is not Benihana in flavor by any stretch. The chicken and steak are cooked appropriately but the meats aren't super fancy seasoned nor exciting in flavor. The look of the dishes is ... blah ... for lack of better words. I've seen Chinese take out look better on a plate. That being said, its decent.. as in I finish my plate, but don't dream of eating here nor coming for the food. So why do I even keep coming back? Well, its a great place to come with friends and have a fun meal. The drink menu is limited although there's a good selection of sake, but there are a few different selections... nothing that will excite a beer geek or a cocktail lover. The chef's are fun and personable and make the place worth going. It is definitely not the top notch hibachi show and there's not super fancy tricks. Its pretty much the same tricks each time actually. With all this talk, why don't I rate it a 1 star? Well, for some reason its always fun and I'm happy when I leave ... I'm sure the great company is what helps. To having a place that I always leave happy and allows our group to have a good time, I give a second star.... this is NOT your foodie place to go however.
(2)
David B.
I've been coming to Fuji for 5 years, and today is the last time. This is a place that makes great (I assume) money for it's self off of whatever wedding or graduation parties they have in the basement (hibachi), while they milk whatever they can off the "sushi" upstairs. They suck, and don't get me wrong, they still make some nice noodle dishes and salads (although not on this visit) and there are glimpses of their past in a few items, but for the most part it's bland, boring, sometimes bad, micro-sushi, with a strong emphasis on micro. It's lackluster, I don't know how else to put it. Lackluster micro-sushi, there, I've said it. And most of the wait staff doesn't have a clue or care as if Fuji's turn employees over ever week, which is always your best sign of management that's nuts (which always effects the food)
(2)
K G.
I would give it 4 stars but its a little over priced and the service was lackluster. Try the jalapeño tempura, very good!
(3)
Patty Z.
The food was very good and the sashimi was very fresh. Unfortunately I will not go back because it is no fun to swat at dozens of fruit flies while eating.
(3)
Alise K.
Chicken teriyaki lunch box. So good. Comes with salad, miso soup, appetizer of day, tempura veggies and 2 shrimp, small spring roll and choice of California roll. They don't include rice anymore, so don't forget to order a side of it.
(5)
Alison S.
Never been so rushed at a restaurant before. Had reservations at 630 and they had us out by 740 and we were not seated on time. They wouldn't let us order more drinks because they wanted to use our table. Very disappointed because I heard great things about this place. It was also very expensive compared to the other hibachi restaurants in the area.
(1)
Nicole B.
Call for hibachi reservations if it's a Friday or Saturday, especially in the summer. (PS The later the reservation, the more rowdy you can expect the place to be, so make earlier reservations if you plan to bring the kids.) I have particularly fond memories of coming here for dinner for my Bachelorette party and being seated with and next to a few other Bachelorette groups. The value is excellent---you get a small salad, soup, 2 shrimp appetizers, stir fry with noodles, rice and your choice meat (or vegetarian). They take care to ask if anyone at the table has allergies and will separate your food from everyone else's if you do. The chef interacted well with our group on this particular visit, even during some questionably acceptable conversations, and the waitress put up commendably with the antics of a few in the party. Unfortunately the food quality and portion sizes just don't seem to be the same as I remembered.
(3)
Jax K.
Guys, I found a fantastic combination in the Fuji restaurant: Sushi and spicy scallop roll with iced cinnamon ginger tea!! Can't beat this quality of taste around here. Guys you gotta try them! I guarantee that you will love them even you don't favor sushi and roll. Tastes so good!!
(5)
Puneet M.
For any non-sushi eaters like myself this place had a very delicious and large menu that will please every body. I had the dumpling soup which could have used more flavor but the noodles were amazing.
(4)
Trevor G.
Visited while on vacation in Maine. I liked it so much I went back a second time. It would have been a third if the Hibachi section was open for lunch. I got the Hibachi dinner with steak and shrimp combo the first time. I thought it was a great deal getting soup and some delicious fried rice along with the protein. The second time I went for just steak because I loved it so much. I took home some leftovers which were just as good the next day. The chefs were very entertaining and sociable. The biggest surprise for me was the drinks. My first visit was spontaneous so I did not have reservations. My party had to sit at the bar to wait for a group to finish dining. Katie was tending bar that night and she was a real professions. The combination of her personality and her bartending knowledge. The drinks off the menu were good but for our second round she created drinks that fit the exact taste profiles that we were looking for. This is the sort of service that I would expect in a mixology bar and not a restaurant bar. Fuji will likely be my first stop the next time I am in Portland.
(5)
Mimi Y.
Absolutely delicious food. Don't forget to try the tempura jalapeño! The staff is incredibly nice and gave us a table 2min before closing. *Note that the real closing time is 9:00 (not 10, as Yelp lists). What a delicious way to start our stay in Portland - enjoy!
(5)
Christopher C.
Holy pork belly Batman. The grilled wild pork belly was in the running for best app ever. Better than most Michelin started spots. It came with a golchuchang sesame paste basted on while grilling and tasted like pork heaven. the Sushi was fantastic, the lobster didn't disappoint. And the cocktails were deliciously strong. Definitely worth a repeat visit.
(5)
Bailey Z.
For a sushi restaurant so close to the sea, I expected fresh seafood and Fuji delivered. The restaurant itself has a clean, contemporary feel with a welcoming atmosphere. For the diner on a budget, the lunch box offers a sampling of a variety of sushi, meat, salad, and soup for $11-13. I, myself, could not resist trying both the udon and a couple of the signature rolls. The Nabe-yaki udon has a nice seafood broth with hot pot egg, vegetables, fish cake, and shrimp tempura. I didn't care too much for the sweet egg, but I was impressed by how well the noodles were cooked. For the rolls, I tried the Fuji and the Rainbow Hako. The crunchy white tuna was a nice creative addition to the classic rainbow roll. The fish from both rolls were fresh and enjoyable. Despite a couple of head scratching Korean dishes on an otherwise completely Japanese menu, Fuji is a nice lunch spot in Portland. The prices are decent and it stands as one of the more legitimate sushi restaurants to try in New England (outside of Boston).
(4)
Mondae B.
Ahhhh what is there not to love about Fugi?!?! In my book there is nothing not to love!!! We walk in the door and we are always greeted like old friends coming for a visit. We always sit at the sushi bar & enjoy looking at the fresh fish, watching the chefs create their masterpieces & enjoying conversations with Jack & the other Chefs. What is our favorite, wow that's tough.... I always have to have a spicy scallop roll & casco bay roll. Jack always creates an amazing sashimi plate for us. The monk fish liver is a must as well! We have also eaten down at the hibachi & have an amazing time & meal. Thank you Fugi for always making our dining experience amazing!
(5)
Justine J.
One of my favorite spots in Portland. The staff is always friendly and helpful (ALWAYS), the food is DELICIOUS (I always get the avocado salad, miso soup, and some combination of sushi rolls), the place is always clean, never too crowded, and lots of options for seating. Good people watching out the windows, too.
(5)
S And E H.
Love Love Love this place. Amazing sushi and wonderful people. I can't think of anything sashimi or sushi related that we didn't love. When we leave I always have a smile on my face and feel as if we could be "rolled out'.
(5)
Abdulrahman Z.
Ahh this place was pretty good! I've always loved hibachi and it's not the best hibachi I've had but still worth going to. I was kinda disappointed with portions they gave us but the chef was awesome. He was very nice and had lots of tricks up his sleeve. Giving it 4 stars because of portion size.
(4)
Jimmy H.
By far the best hibachi I have had! Their fried rice is amazing! Never had a bad feel here. The portions are huge and the chefs are some of the most skilled and friendly hibachi chefs I have seen! I love entertaining clients here!
(5)
Laura L.
The food is really good, but it's definitely on the pricey side. There is no parking whatsoever, so beware.
(5)
Tiffany T.
Here is the skinny - go on Fridays or Saturdays for a fresher selection of raw fish! If you prefer food of the cooked variety and are a fan of noodles, their yaki udon will hit the spot. For some good rolls, check out the Hawaiian Bomb and Fuji roll. Their salmon sashimi is very good for Maine. Booze patrol - they have a huge bowl of margarita you can get and "share" with a friend. This is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland. Tip well, the servers will remember you and give you better service!
(4)
Steff D.
I had ALWAYS wanted to try Fuji's. Growing up, it always seemed to be where the cool kids ate. Friends and I went to the movies the other night, and Fuji's location made it an ideal spot for dinner. There was no wait upstairs, and we were ushered to a table in the back almost immediately. Unfortunately, the table we were sat at was right next to a major leak in the ceiling. Why they sat us here when there were plenty of open tables away from it was confusing. The bucket catching the water was overflowing so the floor was covered. On my way back from the bathroom, I slipped in a puddle, crashed into one of the tables, and knocked the bucket of water all over me. I received quite the sizeable and painful welt on both my elbow and knee because of it. Spending the rest of my dinner wet, cold, in pain, and totally embarrassed wasn't really what I wanted from my first experience at Fuji (or before sitting in an air conditioned movie theater). This is why it's getting three-stars from me. Was the sushi good? Meh - it was okay; definitely not the tastiest in town. I liked that the vegetarian sushi was only like $4 or $5 - and since the price is right, I would definitely go back... but only if it wasn't raining outside/they took better safety precautions.
(3)
Amelia H.
I have been to Fuji every summer for the last three years. Sometimes twice. Unfortunately for you, I didn't have yelp back then--a sin, I know. Well I visited Maine this weekend and went again. I would have given it five stars in the past, but it wasn't quite as good this time. Here is what you need to know. The Mai Tais are amazing. It is worth the extra $2 to get fried rice. The filet is to die for. Always get the chicken with terriyaki on it. The food is really, really good.
(4)
June K.
First of all, this place is SOLID. I don't understand what the complaints are all about. Every time I go to Portland I make a point to eat at Fuji. First time I went was for one of my girlfriend's birthday. I did not expect that much from a sushi restaurant but I had so much fun! Not only you get amazing food from hibachi grill but the spectacles were equally amazing! Even compared to a lot of restaurants in NYC, this is better than the most! I went back few more times when I went to visit my friends. I ate upstairs for the normal dining experience, and it was awesome! I am not sure that they just use the good fish or because it is close to the ocean, the fish quality was superb. I love love love all their rolls! After going there many times, I developed the list of my favorite that I have to get every time I go there. YOU HAVE TO TRY - Fuji roll - Jalapeno Tempura - Lobster roll (Yum x100) - Spicy Tuna Salad - Casco Bay Roll - Oyster Tempura I LOVE THIS PLACE. MUST GO!!!!!!!!
(5)
Marie C.
We found this place while wandering Fore Street on a weekend getaway. First off, you should allow time to window shop at all the unique and locally owned shops nearby before or afterwards..they're very pleasant, and it's nice to see independently owned places still exist. The restaurant itself offers a nice, spacious upstairs dining option with tatami seating, and a more traditional Japanese dining environment. Downstairs offers a spacious, active bar scene, with several large habachi style tables - ideal for larger groups. We ate upstairs, and found the service very friendly, knowledgable, and kid-friendly. The food was very good -- not Blue Fin in Cambridge, MA's excellent - but very good indeed. The menu consists of a lot of sushi options, the typical teriaki and tempura offerings, and a few nice Korean choices. We enjoyed the edamame, miso soup, and our entrees were large and a good value for the price. They also have a good cold and hot sake menu, and offer a few local beers as well. There is free, validated parking available at the nearby Fore St. garage, and there are two good gelato places right around the corner, as well as a great, local French coffee and pastry place, if that's what you're craving..
(4)
Thomas T.
if i ever got the chance to be on "best thing i ever ate", i would without a doubt choose the jalapeno tempura at fuji. the first time my girlfriend and i stumbled into fuji, we were japanese cuisine virgins. as we learned to use chopsticks, we learned a new love for this colorful, flavorful, incredible food. we've gone through a few times now and i still have never been disappointed. tonight however, was the absolute best of the best. i passed on my favorite, trusty jalapeno tempura to keep it light. you can always find us with a boston roll (cooked salmon & cuke) and a garden salad with the best miso dressing weve had on the table. that, combined with the signature 'fuji roll' and a mai tai... it was a great meal. but not was a perfect night out complete without our entertainment/chef pitching us, and the rest of the sushi bar crowd, this amazing nibble of seared tuna, smothered in spicy sauce and then striped with a coupling of wasabi mayo and this sweet bbq-esque sauce. it's my go to.
(5)
Dani W.
Contrary to other postings, we have never had a bad meal here. The Casco Bay roll is always a favorite and is delicious when paired with their spicy dipping sauce (that usually if for their calamari (another yummy dish)). Another favorite is their ginger dressing on their house salad. Often I have found dressings at other sushi restaurants to have a strong flavor and bad texture. The atmosphere is relaxed and a great place to enjoy the company of friends.
(5)
Drew T.
This is a favorite among my friends and I, whenever I visit Maine I usually end up here! It's my sisters absolute favorite and she's a regular whenever she goes and visits our parents. It's all about the teriyaki chicken! The fried rice is amazing! Great selection in beers and wine, if you haven't been here - check it out. Great atmosphere every time I've went, hibachi style really adds to the meal itself.
(5)
lyndsey F.
I've been here quite a few times and I think it is an okay sushi place. The sushi itself is alright but it's a bit expensive for what it is. I also don't love that they promote their "specialty" rolls so much...All of the fried stuff and fake fish and meat filled rolls - this is a tell tale sign of an iffy sushi place. I probably wouldn't take this place over most other sushi places in town, but I think that this is the only one open from lunch through dinner. xoxo
(3)
Sarah E.
Only gave it 4 stars because i have yet to try the sushi. I had the shrimp hibiachi (spelling error here I assume) and it was very good! My group and I had a lot of fun, and our cook Yoshi was really funny and entertaining. The food was SO good! I didn't even need the sauces to go with my shrimp. I had the fried rice with my meal and the lo mein noodles were very good too. For a drink the Sake Mojoito is out of this world!! sooo good! Great place to go with a group for a fun night out before hitting the bars, etc... The decor is nice, nothing too formal, and the staff was friendly but could have been a little bit more attentive. PRO: Food Atmosphere Validated Parking CON: Pricey
(4)
Sony M.
Ah-mazing... I had the sushi, and I've never had anything so fresh. The rest of my party had the hibachi grill and loved the food as well as the atmosphere and wonderful chef! We were there for a bachelorette party, but I am planning on bringing my daughter here this summer... absolutely perfect!
(5)
Melissa B.
We went to Fuji for my boyfriend's birthday (they were totally cool with us bringing a cake) and went specifically for the hibachi. I had a vague idea of hibachi antics but didn't realize how fun it would be. We went with rice and noodles, the shrimp appetizer was tasty. the two guys in the party got steak, I got a mixed seafood, and another member of the party got chicken. We all sampled bits of each other's food (I did not share parts of my lobster tail, I'm greedy) and it was all so delicious. Steaks were cooked perfectly, seafood was perfect and not over cooked, chicken was moist and flavorful. The whole experience was wonderful, and our waitress was very accommodating in getting forks for the non chopstick users and then later for the cake (although she wouldn't sing, boo). I can not wait to be able to go again!
(5)
Silvio P.
Food is good but the service is horrible, the waiter does not even attend you table or bring plates once the food is delivered... Asking a question is not possible since she does not check on you...
(2)
Lindsay S.
I should premise this by saying I am 6 months pregnant and I had been walking for hours and was starving when I randomly chose this place to eat. My husband, daughter and I loved it! Generous portions and reasonable prices for really good Japanese food. Our server was as friendly and natural as can be, the seats were comfy and the setting pretty and clean.
(5)
Rob W.
Ive had hit and miss experiences here. My wife loves it though so it used to be in our regular rotation when we lived in Maine. Would have liked to try some of the other options Portland has for sushi. They have your typical sushi menu, and everything is usually tasty and fresh. If you go give the "Casco Bay Roll" a try, its a spicy tuna roll, tempura dipped, fried, and drizzled with a wasabi cream sauce... You wont be disappointed. This is a good place for lunch and dinner, they also have some hibachi tables downstairs although I have never tried them.
(3)
Cory M.
Great place. The Godzilla roll might look appetizing in the picture, and in theory it is, but it's giant and a little hard to handle. Get something else. I need to explore the menu a little bit more.
(3)
Jay B.
Went for lunch with some of our Asian staff members and everyone thought food and service was very good! Prices also reasonable.
(4)
Nicole O.
Best Japanese in Portland. Great sushi, sublime teriyaki sauce!
(5)
Jessica S.
Pretty decent sushi place. Unfortunately since the owner changed, it was not same anymore. I personally knew the previous owner, who was just super hands on guy on everything from kitchen to sushi bar to downstairs hibachi table. Not only he was excellent at selecting his sushi cheifs, he was very good at running business. When he took over the place few years ago, it really turned the place around. Unfortunately the owner moved to a different state, and although their menu stayed the same, it's just not same. What a shame.
(3)
Emily A.
I've been here for a couple of birthday parties where we sat at the Hibachi tables. The experience is pretty entertaining and the food is good. But I'm not sure if Fuji really understands the concept of reservations. Both times I came here with a birthday group we had reservations, but had to wait around 45 minutes for our table. Not the biggest issue in the world, we waited at the bar until our table was deemed "ready", but my point is why accept reservations if they don't plan on honoring them?
(3)
Paul L.
Tsk Tsk Tsk, it may have been an off night for most of the staff but the night was playing out as if it was everyone's first day except the chef. With that said, II cannot comment for the sushi upstairs because we were down at the hibachi tables. Service aside, the food was good and there was plenty of it. The chef had some mad skills and was very funny.
(3)
Jessica M.
Great place to go for sushi and tempura. Has a very nice atmosphere and reasonably priced food. Always good sushi specials.
(4)
Andrew K.
I have not visited the sushi restaurant. I've only come here for the hibachi. The food I think is excellent as it may very well be the best fried rice I've ever had. I've had everything on the teppanyaki menu except for the lobster so far. I have been impressed with the depth and flavor without a large number of seasonings and ingredients. Sometimes simple is just better. The teriyaki chicken, salmon, ny strip, and filet are all cooked well and moist. The chefs do a good job getting a perfect medium rare on the beef. It's a bit loud and crowded during a busy night. I wish it was in a larger space, but in the old port loud and crowded is usually the norm anyways. The experience itself is very entertaining as the chefs make an attempt to engage everyone at the table and keep everyone entertained. It's still fun to watch even after multiple visits. It's the perfect night out for a birthday party or just with a group of friends.
(4)
Mike S.
Oh Fuji, you always confuse me with what I want to rate you... Lets start with the food -- I haven't explored the sushi very much here but tried a piece of friends sushi on occasion. Nothing is every impressive looking or tasting and the selection is typical for a middle end sushi place. Lets put it this way, I don't come here for sushi, and wouldn't suggest this be your sushi go-to. The hibachi food is typical in flavor, look and variety. It is not Benihana in flavor by any stretch. The chicken and steak are cooked appropriately but the meats aren't super fancy seasoned nor exciting in flavor. The look of the dishes is ... blah ... for lack of better words. I've seen Chinese take out look better on a plate. That being said, its decent.. as in I finish my plate, but don't dream of eating here nor coming for the food. So why do I even keep coming back? Well, its a great place to come with friends and have a fun meal. The drink menu is limited although there's a good selection of sake, but there are a few different selections... nothing that will excite a beer geek or a cocktail lover. The chef's are fun and personable and make the place worth going. It is definitely not the top notch hibachi show and there's not super fancy tricks. Its pretty much the same tricks each time actually. With all this talk, why don't I rate it a 1 star? Well, for some reason its always fun and I'm happy when I leave ... I'm sure the great company is what helps. To having a place that I always leave happy and allows our group to have a good time, I give a second star.... this is NOT your foodie place to go however.
(2)
Fred S.
My wife and I have eaten at Fuji several times, we've done the hibachi tables, the dining room, and the sushi bar; each a fine experience, for the most part. The majority of the time the food at Fuji is quite fresh and very well done. I prefer to eat sashimi and Cathy prefers sushi rolls, so we stick with that (except for at the hibachi). There are other items on the menu, which always look nice when passing by on the way to another table. Most of the time your sushi/sashimi will be beautiful, but sometimes the b-team is behind the bar, which happens on occasion. The hibachi tables are a blast, but you really need to be in a group of four or more to get the most out of it. If they ask you if it is OK to have strangers join you, say yes, it is totally worth it! The chef makes everything in front of you to order, very fresh and full of buttery goodness. They also put on a show for you, juggling spatulas and throwing food in your mouth, It can get as crazy or be as reserved as you want, the chef can usually read the group. Don't forget to tip! In all of the years I've gone to Fugi the faux-Japanese decor has never changed, it is broken up into seperate rooms: A main dining room, one of those japanese-style rooms where you sit on the floor with your shoes off, the hibachi room, and a lounge/bar with a big TV. The staff is usually very friendly, a few of them have been there for a long time and will remember you by name after a while. When we were there on our anniversary last year, our waitress bought (yes, bought!) us a beautiful desert, after serving us a wonderful dinner. Overall Fugi in Portland is a fine place to get a nice meal, take the family and grab some hibachi, the kids will love it!
(4)
June K.
First of all, this place is SOLID. I don't understand what the complaints are all about. Every time I go to Portland I make a point to eat at Fuji. First time I went was for one of my girlfriend's birthday. I did not expect that much from a sushi restaurant but I had so much fun! Not only you get amazing food from hibachi grill but the spectacles were equally amazing! Even compared to a lot of restaurants in NYC, this is better than the most! I went back few more times when I went to visit my friends. I ate upstairs for the normal dining experience, and it was awesome! I am not sure that they just use the good fish or because it is close to the ocean, the fish quality was superb. I love love love all their rolls! After going there many times, I developed the list of my favorite that I have to get every time I go there. YOU HAVE TO TRY - Fuji roll - Jalapeno Tempura - Lobster roll (Yum x100) - Spicy Tuna Salad - Casco Bay Roll - Oyster Tempura I LOVE THIS PLACE. MUST GO!!!!!!!!
(5)
Rob W.
Ive had hit and miss experiences here. My wife loves it though so it used to be in our regular rotation when we lived in Maine. Would have liked to try some of the other options Portland has for sushi. They have your typical sushi menu, and everything is usually tasty and fresh. If you go give the "Casco Bay Roll" a try, its a spicy tuna roll, tempura dipped, fried, and drizzled with a wasabi cream sauce... You wont be disappointed. This is a good place for lunch and dinner, they also have some hibachi tables downstairs although I have never tried them.
(3)
Cory M.
Great place. The Godzilla roll might look appetizing in the picture, and in theory it is, but it's giant and a little hard to handle. Get something else. I need to explore the menu a little bit more.
(3)
Lindsay S.
I should premise this by saying I am 6 months pregnant and I had been walking for hours and was starving when I randomly chose this place to eat. My husband, daughter and I loved it! Generous portions and reasonable prices for really good Japanese food. Our server was as friendly and natural as can be, the seats were comfy and the setting pretty and clean.
(5)
Sarah E.
Only gave it 4 stars because i have yet to try the sushi. I had the shrimp hibiachi (spelling error here I assume) and it was very good! My group and I had a lot of fun, and our cook Yoshi was really funny and entertaining. The food was SO good! I didn't even need the sauces to go with my shrimp. I had the fried rice with my meal and the lo mein noodles were very good too. For a drink the Sake Mojoito is out of this world!! sooo good! Great place to go with a group for a fun night out before hitting the bars, etc... The decor is nice, nothing too formal, and the staff was friendly but could have been a little bit more attentive. PRO: Food Atmosphere Validated Parking CON: Pricey
(4)
Kayti C.
We had their calamari first and it was delicious so we were expecting a great dinner but their sushi and rolls were very sad. They didn't even use real crab in a lot of their rolls. Meh, wouldn't go back. Especially since it's a bit on the pricier side.
(2)
Chris C.
I went here twice and ordered the sushi sashimi combo on both occasions. The fish is fresh and the sushi filling. The wasabi is so-so. However, definitely try out the white tuna. Will come back again, and maybe try out different menu items. They have Kirin beer.
(4)
Marie C.
We found this place while wandering Fore Street on a weekend getaway. First off, you should allow time to window shop at all the unique and locally owned shops nearby before or afterwards..they're very pleasant, and it's nice to see independently owned places still exist. The restaurant itself offers a nice, spacious upstairs dining option with tatami seating, and a more traditional Japanese dining environment. Downstairs offers a spacious, active bar scene, with several large habachi style tables - ideal for larger groups. We ate upstairs, and found the service very friendly, knowledgable, and kid-friendly. The food was very good -- not Blue Fin in Cambridge, MA's excellent - but very good indeed. The menu consists of a lot of sushi options, the typical teriaki and tempura offerings, and a few nice Korean choices. We enjoyed the edamame, miso soup, and our entrees were large and a good value for the price. They also have a good cold and hot sake menu, and offer a few local beers as well. There is free, validated parking available at the nearby Fore St. garage, and there are two good gelato places right around the corner, as well as a great, local French coffee and pastry place, if that's what you're craving..
(4)
lyndsey F.
I've been here quite a few times and I think it is an okay sushi place. The sushi itself is alright but it's a bit expensive for what it is. I also don't love that they promote their "specialty" rolls so much...All of the fried stuff and fake fish and meat filled rolls - this is a tell tale sign of an iffy sushi place. I probably wouldn't take this place over most other sushi places in town, but I think that this is the only one open from lunch through dinner. xoxo
(3)
Melissa B.
We went to Fuji for my boyfriend's birthday (they were totally cool with us bringing a cake) and went specifically for the hibachi. I had a vague idea of hibachi antics but didn't realize how fun it would be. We went with rice and noodles, the shrimp appetizer was tasty. the two guys in the party got steak, I got a mixed seafood, and another member of the party got chicken. We all sampled bits of each other's food (I did not share parts of my lobster tail, I'm greedy) and it was all so delicious. Steaks were cooked perfectly, seafood was perfect and not over cooked, chicken was moist and flavorful. The whole experience was wonderful, and our waitress was very accommodating in getting forks for the non chopstick users and then later for the cake (although she wouldn't sing, boo). I can not wait to be able to go again!
(5)
Silvio P.
Food is good but the service is horrible, the waiter does not even attend you table or bring plates once the food is delivered... Asking a question is not possible since she does not check on you...
(2)
Sony M.
Ah-mazing... I had the sushi, and I've never had anything so fresh. The rest of my party had the hibachi grill and loved the food as well as the atmosphere and wonderful chef! We were there for a bachelorette party, but I am planning on bringing my daughter here this summer... absolutely perfect!
(5)
Jay B.
Went for lunch with some of our Asian staff members and everyone thought food and service was very good! Prices also reasonable.
(4)
Thomas T.
if i ever got the chance to be on "best thing i ever ate", i would without a doubt choose the jalapeno tempura at fuji. the first time my girlfriend and i stumbled into fuji, we were japanese cuisine virgins. as we learned to use chopsticks, we learned a new love for this colorful, flavorful, incredible food. we've gone through a few times now and i still have never been disappointed. tonight however, was the absolute best of the best. i passed on my favorite, trusty jalapeno tempura to keep it light. you can always find us with a boston roll (cooked salmon & cuke) and a garden salad with the best miso dressing weve had on the table. that, combined with the signature 'fuji roll' and a mai tai... it was a great meal. but not was a perfect night out complete without our entertainment/chef pitching us, and the rest of the sushi bar crowd, this amazing nibble of seared tuna, smothered in spicy sauce and then striped with a coupling of wasabi mayo and this sweet bbq-esque sauce. it's my go to.
(5)
Dani W.
Contrary to other postings, we have never had a bad meal here. The Casco Bay roll is always a favorite and is delicious when paired with their spicy dipping sauce (that usually if for their calamari (another yummy dish)). Another favorite is their ginger dressing on their house salad. Often I have found dressings at other sushi restaurants to have a strong flavor and bad texture. The atmosphere is relaxed and a great place to enjoy the company of friends.
(5)
Drew T.
This is a favorite among my friends and I, whenever I visit Maine I usually end up here! It's my sisters absolute favorite and she's a regular whenever she goes and visits our parents. It's all about the teriyaki chicken! The fried rice is amazing! Great selection in beers and wine, if you haven't been here - check it out. Great atmosphere every time I've went, hibachi style really adds to the meal itself.
(5)
Daniel D.
Wandering Portland while on tour, my drummer and I got it in our heads that we needed sushi quickly for takeout. Fuji may not look like a takeout place upon first glance, but they were very accommodating. The time from order to sushi-in-hand was only about ten minutes. The hostess was very nice and helpful in explaining which fish was local and where it all came from. My crab Cali-roll was incredibly fresh as was my tekko roll. Very good seaweed salad as well. I read their menu while waiting, and they do tempura, noodle dishes and all kinds of Japanese and Korean dishes. Overall, Fuji was very friendly and very tasty, with very reasonable prices. When you get tired of clams, lobster and chowder, give Fuji a try.
(3)
Jay H.
The presentation at Fuji is second to none. I feel bad eating the food because it looks so pretty on the plate. Okay, I don't feel that bad, because it's also darned tasty. The best thing I've eaten there was a tempura fried jalapeño stuffed with tuna and cream cheese. I'm afraid it was a special, so I may not experience its magnificence again. The food is good, the service is good, and the atmosphere is good. The only thing keeping me from giving that fifth star is the caliber of the other sushi restaurants in Portland. That being said, I've always gone home from Fuji very happy.
(4)
Kellie B.
I am absolutely shocked to see that Fuji doesn't even have 4 stars! This is some of the best and freshest sushi i have ever had! I used to live in Portland and went to Fuji a lot. In february i was visiting and i tried the Hibachi downstairs for the first time and it was amazing! I got shrimp and scallops! yum yum yum
(5)
Chris P.
One chicken katsu and one order of sashimi, down the pipes! Portions were pretty generous here, and I was happy to find that the waitstaff was attentive, filling my water no less than five times. I had been out walking all day in the sun during the hottest day to date in Portland! The katsu was two large breaded pieces of chicken and tasted just like my friend Miki made it at home. It was served with some cabbage and rice. The sashimi was also pretty good, though we left the fish eggs (I have issues with weird textures). Cute setting, great location (if you're a tourist, I suppose). It's on Exchange Street amongst all the tourist hoo-ha.
(4)
Kathy K.
Meh. It might have been a bad day to visit. I may try again. Service was slow and inattentive. I enjoyed the spicy shrimp soup and ordered a shumai app. The soup came, I finished it and had to tell the mgr I still needed my shumai. Even after the waitress asked if I wanted my two dishes together. Anyway, draws in a good lunch crowd and I would like to give it another go. Good location.
(3)
Emily A.
I've been here for a couple of birthday parties where we sat at the Hibachi tables. The experience is pretty entertaining and the food is good. But I'm not sure if Fuji really understands the concept of reservations. Both times I came here with a birthday group we had reservations, but had to wait around 45 minutes for our table. Not the biggest issue in the world, we waited at the bar until our table was deemed "ready", but my point is why accept reservations if they don't plan on honoring them?
(3)
Sam N.
It wasn't bad sushi. It was fine. The presentation was a little better than the actual food. It was relatively cheap for lunch, though. I only had the sushi. I can't comment on the other parts of the place.
(3)
Michael P.
We go here quite a bit. Te sushi is good, the tatami room is quite comfortable. My wife does not eat sushi and there is plenty on the menu for her.
(4)
Marshunda S.
I know sushi is expensive...but REALLY?!?!? I was not impressed with the sushi there. I have been three times just to make sure that I wasn't being too jaded. I ordered three different sushi plates....not my cup of tea. I think I was paying for the interior decorating over the taste of the food.
(1)
Nicole O.
Best Japanese in Portland. Great sushi, sublime teriyaki sauce!
(5)
Paul L.
Tsk Tsk Tsk, it may have been an off night for most of the staff but the night was playing out as if it was everyone's first day except the chef. With that said, II cannot comment for the sushi upstairs because we were down at the hibachi tables. Service aside, the food was good and there was plenty of it. The chef had some mad skills and was very funny.
(3)
Jessica M.
Great place to go for sushi and tempura. Has a very nice atmosphere and reasonably priced food. Always good sushi specials.
(4)
Jessica S.
Pretty decent sushi place. Unfortunately since the owner changed, it was not same anymore. I personally knew the previous owner, who was just super hands on guy on everything from kitchen to sushi bar to downstairs hibachi table. Not only he was excellent at selecting his sushi cheifs, he was very good at running business. When he took over the place few years ago, it really turned the place around. Unfortunately the owner moved to a different state, and although their menu stayed the same, it's just not same. What a shame.
(3)
Daniel C.
I have found my new place for sushi. I was a frequent patron of King of the Roll, but decided to give Fuji a try. The atmosphere is great on the inside, real authentic, unlike King of the Roll. For starters we tried the seafood dumplings, served with a spicy mustard. They were excellent, not gummy, and had nice seafood flavor. We also sampled the edamame. Not much to say about these, served steamed and salted, very simple but good. For sushi, I sampled 4 different ones. Among them were the Casco Bay, friend yellowfin and avocado. Old Port, crispy salmon skin, Spicy Yellowfin, and Eel sashimi. The best were the yellowfin and eel sashimi. All were very fresh tasty and presented beautifully. The Casco Bay was not what I was expecting. The whole roll was deep fried, not just the tuna, it was also covered in a mayonnaise type sauce. Overall, the Fuji is now my go to sushi restaurant. The food was fresh and reasonably priced. However, some are the mixed drinks (Mai Tai) turned out to be very strong. Maybe it was a fluke thing. Note, this is a review of just the sushi part of Fuji, I have yet to be to the Hibachi side of the restaurant.
(4)
Amanda V.
I believe that Fuji was only my second experience dining out for Japanese food. I went on a Thursday night with five other people, and we were all very pleased with our meals. Quick service for a group that large! I'm excited to go for Hibachi some night, but didn't because I feared an extreme price jump if I went downstairs. I ate upstairs and ordered Yasai Udon (Udon noodles and vegetables in vegetable broth) for $12. I would suggest that a veggie dish have more vegetables, but overall, it was pretty tasty. Crisp and filling, really not a bad dinner option for a group!
(3)
D L.
I have to say, the service here was some of the worst service I have ever experienced. My friends and I went to Fuji to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. Out of our party of twelve, three had been to the Hibachi tables before and absolutely LOVED Fuji before this. The meal started horribly when we were served a Fuji bowl, a $40 Fuji bowl, that was all sugar. We told our server that we did not want them to comp the drink, but that we would prefer if they would simply make it less sweet. Our server returned by saying that they would not comp it or fix it, offered us dessert instead, and said that the reason for this was that we had complained about a Fuji bowl previously and had it comped. The majority of us had never been here before, while the rest of us had been there once before and loved the drink we were served, so this was completely false. When we asked to speak to the manager, our server replied with, "the bartender is the manager". Afterward, a couple of people from our party chose to speak with the manager/bartender and asked for the name of the owner, which he refused to give, and they also asked for his name, which he also refused to give. By the end of the meal, our entire party witnessed the staff talking rudely about us and actually watched an employee tell the hostess at the front desk not to give us the owner's name or contact information, while laughing. To top it all off, they added 20% gratuity to all of our bills to ensure that we would tip them well. The only positive to our experience was that we had an incredible chef who was able to lighten the mood a little bit. Fuji, you can ensure that all twelve of us, eight of whom work in the restaurant industry, will never return.
(1)
Abby F.
This place used to be the premier joint for excellent sushi and excellent sukiyaki. Over the years, it's fallen off a bit but still offers decent food. Try the steak tataki (like carpaccio) and the sukiyaki. The service is hit-or-miss.
(3)
Helen B.
I have to say, our excursion to Fuji last Saturday ended up being one of the more unpleasant restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. We were a 7-person party with a reservation for one of the hibachi tables. Overall, we had a pleasant experience: We were seated reasonably promptly, the chef was attentive and competent, the food was a tad bland but overall decent (overpriced though, for what you get), and the waitstaff was courteous (with the exception of overhearing how the bartenders don't wash out their drink mixers after each use - yuck!). However, it's how they handled the end of the meal that prompts me to give a highly negative review. It was fairly obvious that they were hustling to get us out of there, as the hibachi tables are in high demand, especially on a Saturday evening. The busboy even took our waters away! But, one of our party was in the restroom and we weren't about to leave without her. So after about 5 minutes after we paid the check, the same busboy approached us and asked us to leave! He literally said, "We need to ask you to leave so that we can give your table to someone else." Again, we know that they want to turn the table over, and were in the process of leaving, but this took us all aback, especially after we had just collectively spent $400 for dinner. No putting it nicely, like, "We hope you enjoyed your experience, yada yada yada - just basically, 'get out!'" WTF? The fact that this probably comes from management but they leave this to the busboy tells me something about the psychology of the management as well. So, if you want to be treated like you're moving along a factory line, for overpriced bland food, then by all means go to Fuji! If not, maybe try out one of the many other Japanese restaurants that Portland has to offer, where they treat you like an actual human being. UPDATE: I sent a letter to the management after this happened, because I think they should know why people aren't going to come back to their businesses. I got back some kind of strange form letter that didn't really address anything I had said, or said things that had to be untrue (e.g." we have fired the bartender who doesn't clean out the drink mixers"). Oh really? Even when I didn't give any description of who the person was? Unless they decided to go ahead and fire all their bartenders, which seems unlikely. But, in the end I wasn't surprised - this is clearly a very poorly-run establishment.
(2)
Derik D.
Great fish quality, some unique dishes (like the Casco Bay), and good service. Worth it if you love sushi.
(4)
Amy C.
New owners means I won't be going back. So sad it just isn't as tasty as it used to be. I'm majorly bummed out.
(2)
Justin H.
Wonderul Yaki Udon, sushi, and miso soup. Good service. I'm a happy boy.
(4)
T.H. J.
Fuji gets lost in the shuffle because it has been around a long time and Yokasu and Miyake generally knock your underpants off with their freshness. But, give Fuji credit where it is due. The sushi is a cut above, and...drumroll please..their Korean offerings, especially the BiBimBap will satisfy you everytime. very fresh kimchi and pickled vegetables are served with the BBB.
(4)
LLoyd P.
I had lunch about two weeks ago and the food was excellent, the service was very good and the price was also very reasonable for the food that we had. I highly recommend this restaurant if you like Japanese food.
(4)
Lindsay M.
This spot is absolutely huge! You can't tell from the outside, but when walking in, there's a main floor and then a downstairs area with a bar and more seating. I went for lunch with a friend and we got the Hawaiian bomb roll, the golden calamari roll, pork gyoza and another sushi roll I can't remember right now haha but everything was so good!! Extremely fresh, filling, and the Hawaiian bomb definitely packed some heat!! I also was in love with the calamari; crispy and not too chewy. The service was just ok. Not a personable girl, seemed really quiet/shy, and the bathroom was a walk to get to, but besides that, I'd definitely come back for the food! So delicious
(4)
Lisa B.
6:30-7pm on a Friday night in winter. It was not busy here. I was the only person in the sushi bar. There were clearly some new hires as the hostess/server and a new guy behind the sushi bar stocking the chefs up that hadn't even been there long enough to understand the head chef's accent. It was awkward. With the new people. The head sushi chef was easily frustrated by the new people's understandable mistakes. It wasn't like it was super busy and stressful to cause the short temper. I felt borderline stalked bec the new girl behind the hostess desk kept walking by but wasn't confident yet. I get it. But the sushi chef complaining to the other server about a mistake she made entering a change to an order in the computer was a little unprofessional to do right in front of a customer sitting at the bar. The poor kid behind the sushi bar was so confused by the other sushi chef's accents at one point, I felt really bad for him. But he got in a groove slicing things and that resolved. Now for the sushi. I had the sushi regular that comes with 7 pieces of nigiri sushi, chef's choice and a California roll. It wasn't bad. But I wasn't blown away. And towards the end, I felt like the sushi pieces were biting me back because almost every single one had some hidden wasabi surprise inside. That may be some people's thing, but not mine. It was so much, I started wondering if they were trying to cover up the taste of the fish.... I really wanted to like this place a lot. It was a close, easy place to walk to from where I live. It looks so cute as is near some of my favorite shops downtown, but this experience was so very disappointing.
(2)
Alex K.
I've been coming to Fuji since 2007 consistently and I have to say that as of late it has been letting me down. There was something lack luster about the food the last time I was in there, it just wasn't the same. Their spicy tuna roll is mushy instead of an actual piece of tuna with some spicy sauce. So now I just order a tekka roll and ask for a side of their spicy mayo.I will be back to give them a try because I just can't let their spicy scallop roll and avocado salad go. Also, If they bottled their house dressing I would buy it.
(3)
Leah W.
I have been to Fuji many a time in my life and I am sure I will return. My parents really love eating here and for some reason, my non foodie friends are obsessed with this place and hibachi. A couple of things: -The food is solidly good. not great. not mind blowing. It is nice that this place is fairly consistent and I know what to expect. This is true for the hibachi, the sushi, and the food from the regular kitchen. It is one of the only places where you can get actual Bibimbap in Maine and not want to immediately cry. I would say that the food gets a four star for quality and a three star for authenticity. -The service is meh. While the hibachi chefs are mildly entertaining, the rest of the staff leaves something to be desired. While not outright rude, I have never (not exaggeration) had a server or host who showed any enthusiasm or emotion other than bored ice princess. This is definitely a two star deal. -The atmosphere is okay. I see where they are going with the fake Asian decorations, the fake trees, etc. The bathrooms are clean, however, and the building looks well kept. Overall, I don't hate it and I will be back when friends or family demand it. I wouldn't personally chose this as my favorite Asian or otherwise restaurant, but I have no negative feelings.
(3)
Michaela M.
Convenient place to pick up to-go sushi, and the price isn't bad either. I always get exactly what I want and I never have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes. I've done the hibachi downstairs a couple of times. Also very good, and easily priced. The girls there are always super friendly and I get great service whether I'm doing take-out or dine-in. One concern: last time I went in, I had to wait a very long time for my credit card to process. Like ten minutes of me standing there waiting for their machine to read my card. And it wasn't just me- there were other people waiting too. The servers said that this happens often because their equipment is so old but the owners don't want to spend money for new stuff. I almost had to say forget about it and go back to work. I will continue to go but I hope for the server's sake they update their equipment!
(4)
Beatrice T.
Have eaten here since I was a kid and living in Maine. My mother is Japanese and we have gone many times as a family. Good sushi selection, many options. I would recommend any of the raw choices. Specialty/chefs choice are good. Saketini pairs very well, as the cucumber infusion is refreshing.
(5)
Alyssa H.
We should have taken the hint and turned around and walked out when it took, no joke, over ten minutes for someone to even acknowledge us standing at the hostess stand. No hostess was in sight and the multiple waitresses and sushi chefs walking by did not even say a word. Finally, a waitress noticed us looking undoubtedly annoyed and sat as at a table. Our waitress came over looking panicked and sweaty. She gave us water, but then did not acknowledge our table for another twenty minutes. We finally flagged her down and she gave a quick apology, or more like a plea for us to understand that she as very busy that night. At this point, we were clearly ready to order drinks, apps, and entrees. The food itself was really good, which was a pleasant surprise after our experience this far. We got a rainbow mako roll and another that had shrimp tempura in it. Both were great! We also got two dinner boxes which were both eaten happily. However, service once again reared it's ugly head towards the end of our meal. A friend dropped her chopstick and asked for a fork instead, but after ten minutes or so, we realized it was never coming and had to go ask the hostess, as our waitress was nowhere in sight. Then, once we got the check, we had to find someone again to give our credit card to because again, our waitress was nowhere in sight. I hate giving only two stars on a restaurant whose food was actually good, but unfortunately service is a huge part of the dining experience and it certainly had a negative impact throughout our dinner.
(2)
Brandon K.
My family friends and I came to fuji's. It was my first time while they are regulars. Walking in I noticed the the awesome decor that consisted of paper lantern lights and paper walls that made it seem you were actually dining in Japan. My friends recommended the wild pork belly and I happily obliged. it was awesome! It had the right blend of spices and the flavor was extraordinary. It is a pretty small portion so if you're tryna get flu I recommend getting it as a side. I also ordered a my tai which is putting me on my ass. Still good doe. Peace.
(5)
David B.
I've been coming to Fuji for 5 years, and today is the last time. This is a place that makes great (I assume) money for it's self off of whatever wedding or graduation parties they have in the basement (hibachi), while they milk whatever they can off the "sushi" upstairs. They suck, and don't get me wrong, they still make some nice noodle dishes and salads (although not on this visit) and there are glimpses of their past in a few items, but for the most part it's bland, boring, sometimes bad, micro-sushi, with a strong emphasis on micro. It's lackluster, I don't know how else to put it. Lackluster micro-sushi, there, I've said it. And most of the wait staff doesn't have a clue or care as if Fuji's turn employees over ever week, which is always your best sign of management that's nuts (which always effects the food)
(2)
K G.
I would give it 4 stars but its a little over priced and the service was lackluster. Try the jalapeño tempura, very good!
(3)
Patty Z.
The food was very good and the sashimi was very fresh. Unfortunately I will not go back because it is no fun to swat at dozens of fruit flies while eating.
(3)
Alise K.
Chicken teriyaki lunch box. So good. Comes with salad, miso soup, appetizer of day, tempura veggies and 2 shrimp, small spring roll and choice of California roll. They don't include rice anymore, so don't forget to order a side of it.
(5)
Alison S.
Never been so rushed at a restaurant before. Had reservations at 630 and they had us out by 740 and we were not seated on time. They wouldn't let us order more drinks because they wanted to use our table. Very disappointed because I heard great things about this place. It was also very expensive compared to the other hibachi restaurants in the area.
(1)
Nicole B.
Call for hibachi reservations if it's a Friday or Saturday, especially in the summer. (PS The later the reservation, the more rowdy you can expect the place to be, so make earlier reservations if you plan to bring the kids.) I have particularly fond memories of coming here for dinner for my Bachelorette party and being seated with and next to a few other Bachelorette groups. The value is excellent---you get a small salad, soup, 2 shrimp appetizers, stir fry with noodles, rice and your choice meat (or vegetarian). They take care to ask if anyone at the table has allergies and will separate your food from everyone else's if you do. The chef interacted well with our group on this particular visit, even during some questionably acceptable conversations, and the waitress put up commendably with the antics of a few in the party. Unfortunately the food quality and portion sizes just don't seem to be the same as I remembered.
(3)
Jax K.
Guys, I found a fantastic combination in the Fuji restaurant: Sushi and spicy scallop roll with iced cinnamon ginger tea!! Can't beat this quality of taste around here. Guys you gotta try them! I guarantee that you will love them even you don't favor sushi and roll. Tastes so good!!
(5)
Puneet M.
For any non-sushi eaters like myself this place had a very delicious and large menu that will please every body. I had the dumpling soup which could have used more flavor but the noodles were amazing.
(4)
Trevor G.
Visited while on vacation in Maine. I liked it so much I went back a second time. It would have been a third if the Hibachi section was open for lunch. I got the Hibachi dinner with steak and shrimp combo the first time. I thought it was a great deal getting soup and some delicious fried rice along with the protein. The second time I went for just steak because I loved it so much. I took home some leftovers which were just as good the next day. The chefs were very entertaining and sociable. The biggest surprise for me was the drinks. My first visit was spontaneous so I did not have reservations. My party had to sit at the bar to wait for a group to finish dining. Katie was tending bar that night and she was a real professions. The combination of her personality and her bartending knowledge. The drinks off the menu were good but for our second round she created drinks that fit the exact taste profiles that we were looking for. This is the sort of service that I would expect in a mixology bar and not a restaurant bar. Fuji will likely be my first stop the next time I am in Portland.
(5)
Mimi Y.
Absolutely delicious food. Don't forget to try the tempura jalapeño! The staff is incredibly nice and gave us a table 2min before closing. *Note that the real closing time is 9:00 (not 10, as Yelp lists). What a delicious way to start our stay in Portland - enjoy!
(5)
Christopher C.
Holy pork belly Batman. The grilled wild pork belly was in the running for best app ever. Better than most Michelin started spots. It came with a golchuchang sesame paste basted on while grilling and tasted like pork heaven. the Sushi was fantastic, the lobster didn't disappoint. And the cocktails were deliciously strong. Definitely worth a repeat visit.
(5)
Angi B.
Great food. Skip the vegetarian sushi options (pretty tasteless) and go for the noodles (excellent). Great wine and saki options.
(4)
Megan D.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Fuji! Although, I don't like sushi, I have gone to Fuji for lunch, dinner and Hibachi. The hibachi is the best around, the drinks are good and the chefs are fun! Reservations HIGHLY encouraged, and even then you usually end up waiting for quite some time.
(5)
Marco t.
Jack and Ken at the bar are awesome! They try and "one-up" each other which does two things: make the sushi quality and presentation sublime. Also, it makes for a memorable eat. I value their attention to detail, their attention to the customer. In my last two visits, ken and jack have educated me on the craft of sushi and the other other traditional styles of this japanese cuisine. I have a lot of sushi-- west coast, east coast and these guys made my two days there at Fuji Japanese Restaurant in Portland, ME a memorable one. Come in, sit at the bar, have these guys surprise you. It's rewarding.
(4)
Becca B.
This place is fantastic! Has the best looking atmosphere and the food was excellent and with great portions. Ended up getting a vegetable sushi plate and we all shared a scorpion bowl. Very delicious. Will make it a point to return if I am in the area.
(4)
Bailey Z.
For a sushi restaurant so close to the sea, I expected fresh seafood and Fuji delivered. The restaurant itself has a clean, contemporary feel with a welcoming atmosphere. For the diner on a budget, the lunch box offers a sampling of a variety of sushi, meat, salad, and soup for $11-13. I, myself, could not resist trying both the udon and a couple of the signature rolls. The Nabe-yaki udon has a nice seafood broth with hot pot egg, vegetables, fish cake, and shrimp tempura. I didn't care too much for the sweet egg, but I was impressed by how well the noodles were cooked. For the rolls, I tried the Fuji and the Rainbow Hako. The crunchy white tuna was a nice creative addition to the classic rainbow roll. The fish from both rolls were fresh and enjoyable. Despite a couple of head scratching Korean dishes on an otherwise completely Japanese menu, Fuji is a nice lunch spot in Portland. The prices are decent and it stands as one of the more legitimate sushi restaurants to try in New England (outside of Boston).
(4)
Mondae B.
Ahhhh what is there not to love about Fugi?!?! In my book there is nothing not to love!!! We walk in the door and we are always greeted like old friends coming for a visit. We always sit at the sushi bar & enjoy looking at the fresh fish, watching the chefs create their masterpieces & enjoying conversations with Jack & the other Chefs. What is our favorite, wow that's tough.... I always have to have a spicy scallop roll & casco bay roll. Jack always creates an amazing sashimi plate for us. The monk fish liver is a must as well! We have also eaten down at the hibachi & have an amazing time & meal. Thank you Fugi for always making our dining experience amazing!
(5)
Justine J.
One of my favorite spots in Portland. The staff is always friendly and helpful (ALWAYS), the food is DELICIOUS (I always get the avocado salad, miso soup, and some combination of sushi rolls), the place is always clean, never too crowded, and lots of options for seating. Good people watching out the windows, too.
(5)
S And E H.
Love Love Love this place. Amazing sushi and wonderful people. I can't think of anything sashimi or sushi related that we didn't love. When we leave I always have a smile on my face and feel as if we could be "rolled out'.
(5)
Abdulrahman Z.
Ahh this place was pretty good! I've always loved hibachi and it's not the best hibachi I've had but still worth going to. I was kinda disappointed with portions they gave us but the chef was awesome. He was very nice and had lots of tricks up his sleeve. Giving it 4 stars because of portion size.
(4)
Jimmy H.
By far the best hibachi I have had! Their fried rice is amazing! Never had a bad feel here. The portions are huge and the chefs are some of the most skilled and friendly hibachi chefs I have seen! I love entertaining clients here!
(5)
Laura L.
The food is really good, but it's definitely on the pricey side. There is no parking whatsoever, so beware.
(5)
Tiffany T.
Here is the skinny - go on Fridays or Saturdays for a fresher selection of raw fish! If you prefer food of the cooked variety and are a fan of noodles, their yaki udon will hit the spot. For some good rolls, check out the Hawaiian Bomb and Fuji roll. Their salmon sashimi is very good for Maine. Booze patrol - they have a huge bowl of margarita you can get and "share" with a friend. This is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland. Tip well, the servers will remember you and give you better service!
(4)
Steff D.
I had ALWAYS wanted to try Fuji's. Growing up, it always seemed to be where the cool kids ate. Friends and I went to the movies the other night, and Fuji's location made it an ideal spot for dinner. There was no wait upstairs, and we were ushered to a table in the back almost immediately. Unfortunately, the table we were sat at was right next to a major leak in the ceiling. Why they sat us here when there were plenty of open tables away from it was confusing. The bucket catching the water was overflowing so the floor was covered. On my way back from the bathroom, I slipped in a puddle, crashed into one of the tables, and knocked the bucket of water all over me. I received quite the sizeable and painful welt on both my elbow and knee because of it. Spending the rest of my dinner wet, cold, in pain, and totally embarrassed wasn't really what I wanted from my first experience at Fuji (or before sitting in an air conditioned movie theater). This is why it's getting three-stars from me. Was the sushi good? Meh - it was okay; definitely not the tastiest in town. I liked that the vegetarian sushi was only like $4 or $5 - and since the price is right, I would definitely go back... but only if it wasn't raining outside/they took better safety precautions.
(3)
Amelia H.
I have been to Fuji every summer for the last three years. Sometimes twice. Unfortunately for you, I didn't have yelp back then--a sin, I know. Well I visited Maine this weekend and went again. I would have given it five stars in the past, but it wasn't quite as good this time. Here is what you need to know. The Mai Tais are amazing. It is worth the extra $2 to get fried rice. The filet is to die for. Always get the chicken with terriyaki on it. The food is really, really good.
(4)
Jason D.
Paula Deen is now making Southern-style sushi. More on that in a minute. First off, the Udon noodle dish with shrimp was great. Additionally, the beef teriyaki lunch box was very good as well, with many different items making for a great meal (comes with the beef teriyaki, a sushi roll, salad, tempura, a fried crab dumpling and a fried roll). However, we also ordered the Casco Bay roll and the Spicy Scallop roll and they could have only have been made by Paula Deen. Each roll was absolutely smothered in mayonnaise. I grew up in the South, and I put mayonnaise on things most people wouldn't, but eating these rolls was like eating a bowl of mayo with rice thrown in for texture. The rolls were so heavy handed and in complete contrast to what I enjoy about sushi, which is the clean, bright, crisp flavors. I couldn't actually taste the other ingredients. And on a side note, I realize it was a lazy day at the restaurant (being MLK day), but the waitress always seemed to be missing for extended periods. I would come back to try the hibachi, and for more entrees, but I'm unlikely to order sushi from here again (sorry Paula), especially since there is better & cheaper sushi in the area.
(3)
nicole w.
Usually go to Sapporo but it was closed so we went here for lunch and I was very disappointed. The food was boring and not well prepared. The salmon teriyaki was fatty, as was the pork belly, which was served on a 'bed' of raw onion which added nothing to the dish. Nothing in the bento box tasted good -- the tempura was flat, the salad was old and the agedashi tofu, one of my favorites, tasted like cardboard. The service, like the food, was underwhelming.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Sam N.
It wasn't bad sushi. It was fine. The presentation was a little better than the actual food. It was relatively cheap for lunch, though. I only had the sushi. I can't comment on the other parts of the place.
(3)Michael P.
We go here quite a bit. Te sushi is good, the tatami room is quite comfortable. My wife does not eat sushi and there is plenty on the menu for her.
(4)Marshunda S.
I know sushi is expensive...but REALLY?!?!? I was not impressed with the sushi there. I have been three times just to make sure that I wasn't being too jaded. I ordered three different sushi plates....not my cup of tea. I think I was paying for the interior decorating over the taste of the food.
(1)Jason D.
Paula Deen is now making Southern-style sushi. More on that in a minute. First off, the Udon noodle dish with shrimp was great. Additionally, the beef teriyaki lunch box was very good as well, with many different items making for a great meal (comes with the beef teriyaki, a sushi roll, salad, tempura, a fried crab dumpling and a fried roll). However, we also ordered the Casco Bay roll and the Spicy Scallop roll and they could have only have been made by Paula Deen. Each roll was absolutely smothered in mayonnaise. I grew up in the South, and I put mayonnaise on things most people wouldn't, but eating these rolls was like eating a bowl of mayo with rice thrown in for texture. The rolls were so heavy handed and in complete contrast to what I enjoy about sushi, which is the clean, bright, crisp flavors. I couldn't actually taste the other ingredients. And on a side note, I realize it was a lazy day at the restaurant (being MLK day), but the waitress always seemed to be missing for extended periods. I would come back to try the hibachi, and for more entrees, but I'm unlikely to order sushi from here again (sorry Paula), especially since there is better & cheaper sushi in the area.
(3)nicole w.
Usually go to Sapporo but it was closed so we went here for lunch and I was very disappointed. The food was boring and not well prepared. The salmon teriyaki was fatty, as was the pork belly, which was served on a 'bed' of raw onion which added nothing to the dish. Nothing in the bento box tasted good -- the tempura was flat, the salad was old and the agedashi tofu, one of my favorites, tasted like cardboard. The service, like the food, was underwhelming.
(2)Jay H.
The presentation at Fuji is second to none. I feel bad eating the food because it looks so pretty on the plate. Okay, I don't feel that bad, because it's also darned tasty. The best thing I've eaten there was a tempura fried jalapeño stuffed with tuna and cream cheese. I'm afraid it was a special, so I may not experience its magnificence again. The food is good, the service is good, and the atmosphere is good. The only thing keeping me from giving that fifth star is the caliber of the other sushi restaurants in Portland. That being said, I've always gone home from Fuji very happy.
(4)Kayti C.
We had their calamari first and it was delicious so we were expecting a great dinner but their sushi and rolls were very sad. They didn't even use real crab in a lot of their rolls. Meh, wouldn't go back. Especially since it's a bit on the pricier side.
(2)Chris C.
I went here twice and ordered the sushi sashimi combo on both occasions. The fish is fresh and the sushi filling. The wasabi is so-so. However, definitely try out the white tuna. Will come back again, and maybe try out different menu items. They have Kirin beer.
(4)Fred S.
My wife and I have eaten at Fuji several times, we've done the hibachi tables, the dining room, and the sushi bar; each a fine experience, for the most part. The majority of the time the food at Fuji is quite fresh and very well done. I prefer to eat sashimi and Cathy prefers sushi rolls, so we stick with that (except for at the hibachi). There are other items on the menu, which always look nice when passing by on the way to another table. Most of the time your sushi/sashimi will be beautiful, but sometimes the b-team is behind the bar, which happens on occasion. The hibachi tables are a blast, but you really need to be in a group of four or more to get the most out of it. If they ask you if it is OK to have strangers join you, say yes, it is totally worth it! The chef makes everything in front of you to order, very fresh and full of buttery goodness. They also put on a show for you, juggling spatulas and throwing food in your mouth, It can get as crazy or be as reserved as you want, the chef can usually read the group. Don't forget to tip! In all of the years I've gone to Fugi the faux-Japanese decor has never changed, it is broken up into seperate rooms: A main dining room, one of those japanese-style rooms where you sit on the floor with your shoes off, the hibachi room, and a lounge/bar with a big TV. The staff is usually very friendly, a few of them have been there for a long time and will remember you by name after a while. When we were there on our anniversary last year, our waitress bought (yes, bought!) us a beautiful desert, after serving us a wonderful dinner. Overall Fugi in Portland is a fine place to get a nice meal, take the family and grab some hibachi, the kids will love it!
(4)Daniel D.
Wandering Portland while on tour, my drummer and I got it in our heads that we needed sushi quickly for takeout. Fuji may not look like a takeout place upon first glance, but they were very accommodating. The time from order to sushi-in-hand was only about ten minutes. The hostess was very nice and helpful in explaining which fish was local and where it all came from. My crab Cali-roll was incredibly fresh as was my tekko roll. Very good seaweed salad as well. I read their menu while waiting, and they do tempura, noodle dishes and all kinds of Japanese and Korean dishes. Overall, Fuji was very friendly and very tasty, with very reasonable prices. When you get tired of clams, lobster and chowder, give Fuji a try.
(3)Kellie B.
I am absolutely shocked to see that Fuji doesn't even have 4 stars! This is some of the best and freshest sushi i have ever had! I used to live in Portland and went to Fuji a lot. In february i was visiting and i tried the Hibachi downstairs for the first time and it was amazing! I got shrimp and scallops! yum yum yum
(5)Chris P.
One chicken katsu and one order of sashimi, down the pipes! Portions were pretty generous here, and I was happy to find that the waitstaff was attentive, filling my water no less than five times. I had been out walking all day in the sun during the hottest day to date in Portland! The katsu was two large breaded pieces of chicken and tasted just like my friend Miki made it at home. It was served with some cabbage and rice. The sashimi was also pretty good, though we left the fish eggs (I have issues with weird textures). Cute setting, great location (if you're a tourist, I suppose). It's on Exchange Street amongst all the tourist hoo-ha.
(4)Kathy K.
Meh. It might have been a bad day to visit. I may try again. Service was slow and inattentive. I enjoyed the spicy shrimp soup and ordered a shumai app. The soup came, I finished it and had to tell the mgr I still needed my shumai. Even after the waitress asked if I wanted my two dishes together. Anyway, draws in a good lunch crowd and I would like to give it another go. Good location.
(3)Derik D.
Great fish quality, some unique dishes (like the Casco Bay), and good service. Worth it if you love sushi.
(4)Amy C.
New owners means I won't be going back. So sad it just isn't as tasty as it used to be. I'm majorly bummed out.
(2)Justin H.
Wonderul Yaki Udon, sushi, and miso soup. Good service. I'm a happy boy.
(4)Daniel C.
I have found my new place for sushi. I was a frequent patron of King of the Roll, but decided to give Fuji a try. The atmosphere is great on the inside, real authentic, unlike King of the Roll. For starters we tried the seafood dumplings, served with a spicy mustard. They were excellent, not gummy, and had nice seafood flavor. We also sampled the edamame. Not much to say about these, served steamed and salted, very simple but good. For sushi, I sampled 4 different ones. Among them were the Casco Bay, friend yellowfin and avocado. Old Port, crispy salmon skin, Spicy Yellowfin, and Eel sashimi. The best were the yellowfin and eel sashimi. All were very fresh tasty and presented beautifully. The Casco Bay was not what I was expecting. The whole roll was deep fried, not just the tuna, it was also covered in a mayonnaise type sauce. Overall, the Fuji is now my go to sushi restaurant. The food was fresh and reasonably priced. However, some are the mixed drinks (Mai Tai) turned out to be very strong. Maybe it was a fluke thing. Note, this is a review of just the sushi part of Fuji, I have yet to be to the Hibachi side of the restaurant.
(4)Amanda V.
I believe that Fuji was only my second experience dining out for Japanese food. I went on a Thursday night with five other people, and we were all very pleased with our meals. Quick service for a group that large! I'm excited to go for Hibachi some night, but didn't because I feared an extreme price jump if I went downstairs. I ate upstairs and ordered Yasai Udon (Udon noodles and vegetables in vegetable broth) for $12. I would suggest that a veggie dish have more vegetables, but overall, it was pretty tasty. Crisp and filling, really not a bad dinner option for a group!
(3)D L.
I have to say, the service here was some of the worst service I have ever experienced. My friends and I went to Fuji to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. Out of our party of twelve, three had been to the Hibachi tables before and absolutely LOVED Fuji before this. The meal started horribly when we were served a Fuji bowl, a $40 Fuji bowl, that was all sugar. We told our server that we did not want them to comp the drink, but that we would prefer if they would simply make it less sweet. Our server returned by saying that they would not comp it or fix it, offered us dessert instead, and said that the reason for this was that we had complained about a Fuji bowl previously and had it comped. The majority of us had never been here before, while the rest of us had been there once before and loved the drink we were served, so this was completely false. When we asked to speak to the manager, our server replied with, "the bartender is the manager". Afterward, a couple of people from our party chose to speak with the manager/bartender and asked for the name of the owner, which he refused to give, and they also asked for his name, which he also refused to give. By the end of the meal, our entire party witnessed the staff talking rudely about us and actually watched an employee tell the hostess at the front desk not to give us the owner's name or contact information, while laughing. To top it all off, they added 20% gratuity to all of our bills to ensure that we would tip them well. The only positive to our experience was that we had an incredible chef who was able to lighten the mood a little bit. Fuji, you can ensure that all twelve of us, eight of whom work in the restaurant industry, will never return.
(1)Helen B.
I have to say, our excursion to Fuji last Saturday ended up being one of the more unpleasant restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. We were a 7-person party with a reservation for one of the hibachi tables. Overall, we had a pleasant experience: We were seated reasonably promptly, the chef was attentive and competent, the food was a tad bland but overall decent (overpriced though, for what you get), and the waitstaff was courteous (with the exception of overhearing how the bartenders don't wash out their drink mixers after each use - yuck!). However, it's how they handled the end of the meal that prompts me to give a highly negative review. It was fairly obvious that they were hustling to get us out of there, as the hibachi tables are in high demand, especially on a Saturday evening. The busboy even took our waters away! But, one of our party was in the restroom and we weren't about to leave without her. So after about 5 minutes after we paid the check, the same busboy approached us and asked us to leave! He literally said, "We need to ask you to leave so that we can give your table to someone else." Again, we know that they want to turn the table over, and were in the process of leaving, but this took us all aback, especially after we had just collectively spent $400 for dinner. No putting it nicely, like, "We hope you enjoyed your experience, yada yada yada - just basically, 'get out!'" WTF? The fact that this probably comes from management but they leave this to the busboy tells me something about the psychology of the management as well. So, if you want to be treated like you're moving along a factory line, for overpriced bland food, then by all means go to Fuji! If not, maybe try out one of the many other Japanese restaurants that Portland has to offer, where they treat you like an actual human being. UPDATE: I sent a letter to the management after this happened, because I think they should know why people aren't going to come back to their businesses. I got back some kind of strange form letter that didn't really address anything I had said, or said things that had to be untrue (e.g." we have fired the bartender who doesn't clean out the drink mixers"). Oh really? Even when I didn't give any description of who the person was? Unless they decided to go ahead and fire all their bartenders, which seems unlikely. But, in the end I wasn't surprised - this is clearly a very poorly-run establishment.
(2)T.H. J.
Fuji gets lost in the shuffle because it has been around a long time and Yokasu and Miyake generally knock your underpants off with their freshness. But, give Fuji credit where it is due. The sushi is a cut above, and...drumroll please..their Korean offerings, especially the BiBimBap will satisfy you everytime. very fresh kimchi and pickled vegetables are served with the BBB.
(4)LLoyd P.
I had lunch about two weeks ago and the food was excellent, the service was very good and the price was also very reasonable for the food that we had. I highly recommend this restaurant if you like Japanese food.
(4)Abby F.
This place used to be the premier joint for excellent sushi and excellent sukiyaki. Over the years, it's fallen off a bit but still offers decent food. Try the steak tataki (like carpaccio) and the sukiyaki. The service is hit-or-miss.
(3)Angi B.
Great food. Skip the vegetarian sushi options (pretty tasteless) and go for the noodles (excellent). Great wine and saki options.
(4)Megan D.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Fuji! Although, I don't like sushi, I have gone to Fuji for lunch, dinner and Hibachi. The hibachi is the best around, the drinks are good and the chefs are fun! Reservations HIGHLY encouraged, and even then you usually end up waiting for quite some time.
(5)Lindsay M.
This spot is absolutely huge! You can't tell from the outside, but when walking in, there's a main floor and then a downstairs area with a bar and more seating. I went for lunch with a friend and we got the Hawaiian bomb roll, the golden calamari roll, pork gyoza and another sushi roll I can't remember right now haha but everything was so good!! Extremely fresh, filling, and the Hawaiian bomb definitely packed some heat!! I also was in love with the calamari; crispy and not too chewy. The service was just ok. Not a personable girl, seemed really quiet/shy, and the bathroom was a walk to get to, but besides that, I'd definitely come back for the food! So delicious
(4)Leah W.
I have been to Fuji many a time in my life and I am sure I will return. My parents really love eating here and for some reason, my non foodie friends are obsessed with this place and hibachi. A couple of things: -The food is solidly good. not great. not mind blowing. It is nice that this place is fairly consistent and I know what to expect. This is true for the hibachi, the sushi, and the food from the regular kitchen. It is one of the only places where you can get actual Bibimbap in Maine and not want to immediately cry. I would say that the food gets a four star for quality and a three star for authenticity. -The service is meh. While the hibachi chefs are mildly entertaining, the rest of the staff leaves something to be desired. While not outright rude, I have never (not exaggeration) had a server or host who showed any enthusiasm or emotion other than bored ice princess. This is definitely a two star deal. -The atmosphere is okay. I see where they are going with the fake Asian decorations, the fake trees, etc. The bathrooms are clean, however, and the building looks well kept. Overall, I don't hate it and I will be back when friends or family demand it. I wouldn't personally chose this as my favorite Asian or otherwise restaurant, but I have no negative feelings.
(3)Michaela M.
Convenient place to pick up to-go sushi, and the price isn't bad either. I always get exactly what I want and I never have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes. I've done the hibachi downstairs a couple of times. Also very good, and easily priced. The girls there are always super friendly and I get great service whether I'm doing take-out or dine-in. One concern: last time I went in, I had to wait a very long time for my credit card to process. Like ten minutes of me standing there waiting for their machine to read my card. And it wasn't just me- there were other people waiting too. The servers said that this happens often because their equipment is so old but the owners don't want to spend money for new stuff. I almost had to say forget about it and go back to work. I will continue to go but I hope for the server's sake they update their equipment!
(4)Beatrice T.
Have eaten here since I was a kid and living in Maine. My mother is Japanese and we have gone many times as a family. Good sushi selection, many options. I would recommend any of the raw choices. Specialty/chefs choice are good. Saketini pairs very well, as the cucumber infusion is refreshing.
(5)Alyssa H.
We should have taken the hint and turned around and walked out when it took, no joke, over ten minutes for someone to even acknowledge us standing at the hostess stand. No hostess was in sight and the multiple waitresses and sushi chefs walking by did not even say a word. Finally, a waitress noticed us looking undoubtedly annoyed and sat as at a table. Our waitress came over looking panicked and sweaty. She gave us water, but then did not acknowledge our table for another twenty minutes. We finally flagged her down and she gave a quick apology, or more like a plea for us to understand that she as very busy that night. At this point, we were clearly ready to order drinks, apps, and entrees. The food itself was really good, which was a pleasant surprise after our experience this far. We got a rainbow mako roll and another that had shrimp tempura in it. Both were great! We also got two dinner boxes which were both eaten happily. However, service once again reared it's ugly head towards the end of our meal. A friend dropped her chopstick and asked for a fork instead, but after ten minutes or so, we realized it was never coming and had to go ask the hostess, as our waitress was nowhere in sight. Then, once we got the check, we had to find someone again to give our credit card to because again, our waitress was nowhere in sight. I hate giving only two stars on a restaurant whose food was actually good, but unfortunately service is a huge part of the dining experience and it certainly had a negative impact throughout our dinner.
(2)Brandon K.
My family friends and I came to fuji's. It was my first time while they are regulars. Walking in I noticed the the awesome decor that consisted of paper lantern lights and paper walls that made it seem you were actually dining in Japan. My friends recommended the wild pork belly and I happily obliged. it was awesome! It had the right blend of spices and the flavor was extraordinary. It is a pretty small portion so if you're tryna get flu I recommend getting it as a side. I also ordered a my tai which is putting me on my ass. Still good doe. Peace.
(5)Marco t.
Jack and Ken at the bar are awesome! They try and "one-up" each other which does two things: make the sushi quality and presentation sublime. Also, it makes for a memorable eat. I value their attention to detail, their attention to the customer. In my last two visits, ken and jack have educated me on the craft of sushi and the other other traditional styles of this japanese cuisine. I have a lot of sushi-- west coast, east coast and these guys made my two days there at Fuji Japanese Restaurant in Portland, ME a memorable one. Come in, sit at the bar, have these guys surprise you. It's rewarding.
(4)Becca B.
This place is fantastic! Has the best looking atmosphere and the food was excellent and with great portions. Ended up getting a vegetable sushi plate and we all shared a scorpion bowl. Very delicious. Will make it a point to return if I am in the area.
(4)Lisa B.
6:30-7pm on a Friday night in winter. It was not busy here. I was the only person in the sushi bar. There were clearly some new hires as the hostess/server and a new guy behind the sushi bar stocking the chefs up that hadn't even been there long enough to understand the head chef's accent. It was awkward. With the new people. The head sushi chef was easily frustrated by the new people's understandable mistakes. It wasn't like it was super busy and stressful to cause the short temper. I felt borderline stalked bec the new girl behind the hostess desk kept walking by but wasn't confident yet. I get it. But the sushi chef complaining to the other server about a mistake she made entering a change to an order in the computer was a little unprofessional to do right in front of a customer sitting at the bar. The poor kid behind the sushi bar was so confused by the other sushi chef's accents at one point, I felt really bad for him. But he got in a groove slicing things and that resolved. Now for the sushi. I had the sushi regular that comes with 7 pieces of nigiri sushi, chef's choice and a California roll. It wasn't bad. But I wasn't blown away. And towards the end, I felt like the sushi pieces were biting me back because almost every single one had some hidden wasabi surprise inside. That may be some people's thing, but not mine. It was so much, I started wondering if they were trying to cover up the taste of the fish.... I really wanted to like this place a lot. It was a close, easy place to walk to from where I live. It looks so cute as is near some of my favorite shops downtown, but this experience was so very disappointing.
(2)Alex K.
I've been coming to Fuji since 2007 consistently and I have to say that as of late it has been letting me down. There was something lack luster about the food the last time I was in there, it just wasn't the same. Their spicy tuna roll is mushy instead of an actual piece of tuna with some spicy sauce. So now I just order a tekka roll and ask for a side of their spicy mayo.I will be back to give them a try because I just can't let their spicy scallop roll and avocado salad go. Also, If they bottled their house dressing I would buy it.
(3)Andrew K.
I have not visited the sushi restaurant. I've only come here for the hibachi. The food I think is excellent as it may very well be the best fried rice I've ever had. I've had everything on the teppanyaki menu except for the lobster so far. I have been impressed with the depth and flavor without a large number of seasonings and ingredients. Sometimes simple is just better. The teriyaki chicken, salmon, ny strip, and filet are all cooked well and moist. The chefs do a good job getting a perfect medium rare on the beef. It's a bit loud and crowded during a busy night. I wish it was in a larger space, but in the old port loud and crowded is usually the norm anyways. The experience itself is very entertaining as the chefs make an attempt to engage everyone at the table and keep everyone entertained. It's still fun to watch even after multiple visits. It's the perfect night out for a birthday party or just with a group of friends.
(4)Mike S.
Oh Fuji, you always confuse me with what I want to rate you... Lets start with the food -- I haven't explored the sushi very much here but tried a piece of friends sushi on occasion. Nothing is every impressive looking or tasting and the selection is typical for a middle end sushi place. Lets put it this way, I don't come here for sushi, and wouldn't suggest this be your sushi go-to. The hibachi food is typical in flavor, look and variety. It is not Benihana in flavor by any stretch. The chicken and steak are cooked appropriately but the meats aren't super fancy seasoned nor exciting in flavor. The look of the dishes is ... blah ... for lack of better words. I've seen Chinese take out look better on a plate. That being said, its decent.. as in I finish my plate, but don't dream of eating here nor coming for the food. So why do I even keep coming back? Well, its a great place to come with friends and have a fun meal. The drink menu is limited although there's a good selection of sake, but there are a few different selections... nothing that will excite a beer geek or a cocktail lover. The chef's are fun and personable and make the place worth going. It is definitely not the top notch hibachi show and there's not super fancy tricks. Its pretty much the same tricks each time actually. With all this talk, why don't I rate it a 1 star? Well, for some reason its always fun and I'm happy when I leave ... I'm sure the great company is what helps. To having a place that I always leave happy and allows our group to have a good time, I give a second star.... this is NOT your foodie place to go however.
(2)David B.
I've been coming to Fuji for 5 years, and today is the last time. This is a place that makes great (I assume) money for it's self off of whatever wedding or graduation parties they have in the basement (hibachi), while they milk whatever they can off the "sushi" upstairs. They suck, and don't get me wrong, they still make some nice noodle dishes and salads (although not on this visit) and there are glimpses of their past in a few items, but for the most part it's bland, boring, sometimes bad, micro-sushi, with a strong emphasis on micro. It's lackluster, I don't know how else to put it. Lackluster micro-sushi, there, I've said it. And most of the wait staff doesn't have a clue or care as if Fuji's turn employees over ever week, which is always your best sign of management that's nuts (which always effects the food)
(2)K G.
I would give it 4 stars but its a little over priced and the service was lackluster. Try the jalapeño tempura, very good!
(3)Patty Z.
The food was very good and the sashimi was very fresh. Unfortunately I will not go back because it is no fun to swat at dozens of fruit flies while eating.
(3)Alise K.
Chicken teriyaki lunch box. So good. Comes with salad, miso soup, appetizer of day, tempura veggies and 2 shrimp, small spring roll and choice of California roll. They don't include rice anymore, so don't forget to order a side of it.
(5)Alison S.
Never been so rushed at a restaurant before. Had reservations at 630 and they had us out by 740 and we were not seated on time. They wouldn't let us order more drinks because they wanted to use our table. Very disappointed because I heard great things about this place. It was also very expensive compared to the other hibachi restaurants in the area.
(1)Nicole B.
Call for hibachi reservations if it's a Friday or Saturday, especially in the summer. (PS The later the reservation, the more rowdy you can expect the place to be, so make earlier reservations if you plan to bring the kids.) I have particularly fond memories of coming here for dinner for my Bachelorette party and being seated with and next to a few other Bachelorette groups. The value is excellent---you get a small salad, soup, 2 shrimp appetizers, stir fry with noodles, rice and your choice meat (or vegetarian). They take care to ask if anyone at the table has allergies and will separate your food from everyone else's if you do. The chef interacted well with our group on this particular visit, even during some questionably acceptable conversations, and the waitress put up commendably with the antics of a few in the party. Unfortunately the food quality and portion sizes just don't seem to be the same as I remembered.
(3)Jax K.
Guys, I found a fantastic combination in the Fuji restaurant: Sushi and spicy scallop roll with iced cinnamon ginger tea!! Can't beat this quality of taste around here. Guys you gotta try them! I guarantee that you will love them even you don't favor sushi and roll. Tastes so good!!
(5)Puneet M.
For any non-sushi eaters like myself this place had a very delicious and large menu that will please every body. I had the dumpling soup which could have used more flavor but the noodles were amazing.
(4)Trevor G.
Visited while on vacation in Maine. I liked it so much I went back a second time. It would have been a third if the Hibachi section was open for lunch. I got the Hibachi dinner with steak and shrimp combo the first time. I thought it was a great deal getting soup and some delicious fried rice along with the protein. The second time I went for just steak because I loved it so much. I took home some leftovers which were just as good the next day. The chefs were very entertaining and sociable. The biggest surprise for me was the drinks. My first visit was spontaneous so I did not have reservations. My party had to sit at the bar to wait for a group to finish dining. Katie was tending bar that night and she was a real professions. The combination of her personality and her bartending knowledge. The drinks off the menu were good but for our second round she created drinks that fit the exact taste profiles that we were looking for. This is the sort of service that I would expect in a mixology bar and not a restaurant bar. Fuji will likely be my first stop the next time I am in Portland.
(5)Mimi Y.
Absolutely delicious food. Don't forget to try the tempura jalapeño! The staff is incredibly nice and gave us a table 2min before closing. *Note that the real closing time is 9:00 (not 10, as Yelp lists). What a delicious way to start our stay in Portland - enjoy!
(5)Christopher C.
Holy pork belly Batman. The grilled wild pork belly was in the running for best app ever. Better than most Michelin started spots. It came with a golchuchang sesame paste basted on while grilling and tasted like pork heaven. the Sushi was fantastic, the lobster didn't disappoint. And the cocktails were deliciously strong. Definitely worth a repeat visit.
(5)Bailey Z.
For a sushi restaurant so close to the sea, I expected fresh seafood and Fuji delivered. The restaurant itself has a clean, contemporary feel with a welcoming atmosphere. For the diner on a budget, the lunch box offers a sampling of a variety of sushi, meat, salad, and soup for $11-13. I, myself, could not resist trying both the udon and a couple of the signature rolls. The Nabe-yaki udon has a nice seafood broth with hot pot egg, vegetables, fish cake, and shrimp tempura. I didn't care too much for the sweet egg, but I was impressed by how well the noodles were cooked. For the rolls, I tried the Fuji and the Rainbow Hako. The crunchy white tuna was a nice creative addition to the classic rainbow roll. The fish from both rolls were fresh and enjoyable. Despite a couple of head scratching Korean dishes on an otherwise completely Japanese menu, Fuji is a nice lunch spot in Portland. The prices are decent and it stands as one of the more legitimate sushi restaurants to try in New England (outside of Boston).
(4)Mondae B.
Ahhhh what is there not to love about Fugi?!?! In my book there is nothing not to love!!! We walk in the door and we are always greeted like old friends coming for a visit. We always sit at the sushi bar & enjoy looking at the fresh fish, watching the chefs create their masterpieces & enjoying conversations with Jack & the other Chefs. What is our favorite, wow that's tough.... I always have to have a spicy scallop roll & casco bay roll. Jack always creates an amazing sashimi plate for us. The monk fish liver is a must as well! We have also eaten down at the hibachi & have an amazing time & meal. Thank you Fugi for always making our dining experience amazing!
(5)Justine J.
One of my favorite spots in Portland. The staff is always friendly and helpful (ALWAYS), the food is DELICIOUS (I always get the avocado salad, miso soup, and some combination of sushi rolls), the place is always clean, never too crowded, and lots of options for seating. Good people watching out the windows, too.
(5)S And E H.
Love Love Love this place. Amazing sushi and wonderful people. I can't think of anything sashimi or sushi related that we didn't love. When we leave I always have a smile on my face and feel as if we could be "rolled out'.
(5)Abdulrahman Z.
Ahh this place was pretty good! I've always loved hibachi and it's not the best hibachi I've had but still worth going to. I was kinda disappointed with portions they gave us but the chef was awesome. He was very nice and had lots of tricks up his sleeve. Giving it 4 stars because of portion size.
(4)Jimmy H.
By far the best hibachi I have had! Their fried rice is amazing! Never had a bad feel here. The portions are huge and the chefs are some of the most skilled and friendly hibachi chefs I have seen! I love entertaining clients here!
(5)Laura L.
The food is really good, but it's definitely on the pricey side. There is no parking whatsoever, so beware.
(5)Tiffany T.
Here is the skinny - go on Fridays or Saturdays for a fresher selection of raw fish! If you prefer food of the cooked variety and are a fan of noodles, their yaki udon will hit the spot. For some good rolls, check out the Hawaiian Bomb and Fuji roll. Their salmon sashimi is very good for Maine. Booze patrol - they have a huge bowl of margarita you can get and "share" with a friend. This is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland. Tip well, the servers will remember you and give you better service!
(4)Steff D.
I had ALWAYS wanted to try Fuji's. Growing up, it always seemed to be where the cool kids ate. Friends and I went to the movies the other night, and Fuji's location made it an ideal spot for dinner. There was no wait upstairs, and we were ushered to a table in the back almost immediately. Unfortunately, the table we were sat at was right next to a major leak in the ceiling. Why they sat us here when there were plenty of open tables away from it was confusing. The bucket catching the water was overflowing so the floor was covered. On my way back from the bathroom, I slipped in a puddle, crashed into one of the tables, and knocked the bucket of water all over me. I received quite the sizeable and painful welt on both my elbow and knee because of it. Spending the rest of my dinner wet, cold, in pain, and totally embarrassed wasn't really what I wanted from my first experience at Fuji (or before sitting in an air conditioned movie theater). This is why it's getting three-stars from me. Was the sushi good? Meh - it was okay; definitely not the tastiest in town. I liked that the vegetarian sushi was only like $4 or $5 - and since the price is right, I would definitely go back... but only if it wasn't raining outside/they took better safety precautions.
(3)Amelia H.
I have been to Fuji every summer for the last three years. Sometimes twice. Unfortunately for you, I didn't have yelp back then--a sin, I know. Well I visited Maine this weekend and went again. I would have given it five stars in the past, but it wasn't quite as good this time. Here is what you need to know. The Mai Tais are amazing. It is worth the extra $2 to get fried rice. The filet is to die for. Always get the chicken with terriyaki on it. The food is really, really good.
(4)June K.
First of all, this place is SOLID. I don't understand what the complaints are all about. Every time I go to Portland I make a point to eat at Fuji. First time I went was for one of my girlfriend's birthday. I did not expect that much from a sushi restaurant but I had so much fun! Not only you get amazing food from hibachi grill but the spectacles were equally amazing! Even compared to a lot of restaurants in NYC, this is better than the most! I went back few more times when I went to visit my friends. I ate upstairs for the normal dining experience, and it was awesome! I am not sure that they just use the good fish or because it is close to the ocean, the fish quality was superb. I love love love all their rolls! After going there many times, I developed the list of my favorite that I have to get every time I go there. YOU HAVE TO TRY - Fuji roll - Jalapeno Tempura - Lobster roll (Yum x100) - Spicy Tuna Salad - Casco Bay Roll - Oyster Tempura I LOVE THIS PLACE. MUST GO!!!!!!!!
(5)Marie C.
We found this place while wandering Fore Street on a weekend getaway. First off, you should allow time to window shop at all the unique and locally owned shops nearby before or afterwards..they're very pleasant, and it's nice to see independently owned places still exist. The restaurant itself offers a nice, spacious upstairs dining option with tatami seating, and a more traditional Japanese dining environment. Downstairs offers a spacious, active bar scene, with several large habachi style tables - ideal for larger groups. We ate upstairs, and found the service very friendly, knowledgable, and kid-friendly. The food was very good -- not Blue Fin in Cambridge, MA's excellent - but very good indeed. The menu consists of a lot of sushi options, the typical teriaki and tempura offerings, and a few nice Korean choices. We enjoyed the edamame, miso soup, and our entrees were large and a good value for the price. They also have a good cold and hot sake menu, and offer a few local beers as well. There is free, validated parking available at the nearby Fore St. garage, and there are two good gelato places right around the corner, as well as a great, local French coffee and pastry place, if that's what you're craving..
(4)Thomas T.
if i ever got the chance to be on "best thing i ever ate", i would without a doubt choose the jalapeno tempura at fuji. the first time my girlfriend and i stumbled into fuji, we were japanese cuisine virgins. as we learned to use chopsticks, we learned a new love for this colorful, flavorful, incredible food. we've gone through a few times now and i still have never been disappointed. tonight however, was the absolute best of the best. i passed on my favorite, trusty jalapeno tempura to keep it light. you can always find us with a boston roll (cooked salmon & cuke) and a garden salad with the best miso dressing weve had on the table. that, combined with the signature 'fuji roll' and a mai tai... it was a great meal. but not was a perfect night out complete without our entertainment/chef pitching us, and the rest of the sushi bar crowd, this amazing nibble of seared tuna, smothered in spicy sauce and then striped with a coupling of wasabi mayo and this sweet bbq-esque sauce. it's my go to.
(5)Dani W.
Contrary to other postings, we have never had a bad meal here. The Casco Bay roll is always a favorite and is delicious when paired with their spicy dipping sauce (that usually if for their calamari (another yummy dish)). Another favorite is their ginger dressing on their house salad. Often I have found dressings at other sushi restaurants to have a strong flavor and bad texture. The atmosphere is relaxed and a great place to enjoy the company of friends.
(5)Drew T.
This is a favorite among my friends and I, whenever I visit Maine I usually end up here! It's my sisters absolute favorite and she's a regular whenever she goes and visits our parents. It's all about the teriyaki chicken! The fried rice is amazing! Great selection in beers and wine, if you haven't been here - check it out. Great atmosphere every time I've went, hibachi style really adds to the meal itself.
(5)lyndsey F.
I've been here quite a few times and I think it is an okay sushi place. The sushi itself is alright but it's a bit expensive for what it is. I also don't love that they promote their "specialty" rolls so much...All of the fried stuff and fake fish and meat filled rolls - this is a tell tale sign of an iffy sushi place. I probably wouldn't take this place over most other sushi places in town, but I think that this is the only one open from lunch through dinner. xoxo
(3)Sarah E.
Only gave it 4 stars because i have yet to try the sushi. I had the shrimp hibiachi (spelling error here I assume) and it was very good! My group and I had a lot of fun, and our cook Yoshi was really funny and entertaining. The food was SO good! I didn't even need the sauces to go with my shrimp. I had the fried rice with my meal and the lo mein noodles were very good too. For a drink the Sake Mojoito is out of this world!! sooo good! Great place to go with a group for a fun night out before hitting the bars, etc... The decor is nice, nothing too formal, and the staff was friendly but could have been a little bit more attentive. PRO: Food Atmosphere Validated Parking CON: Pricey
(4)Sony M.
Ah-mazing... I had the sushi, and I've never had anything so fresh. The rest of my party had the hibachi grill and loved the food as well as the atmosphere and wonderful chef! We were there for a bachelorette party, but I am planning on bringing my daughter here this summer... absolutely perfect!
(5)Melissa B.
We went to Fuji for my boyfriend's birthday (they were totally cool with us bringing a cake) and went specifically for the hibachi. I had a vague idea of hibachi antics but didn't realize how fun it would be. We went with rice and noodles, the shrimp appetizer was tasty. the two guys in the party got steak, I got a mixed seafood, and another member of the party got chicken. We all sampled bits of each other's food (I did not share parts of my lobster tail, I'm greedy) and it was all so delicious. Steaks were cooked perfectly, seafood was perfect and not over cooked, chicken was moist and flavorful. The whole experience was wonderful, and our waitress was very accommodating in getting forks for the non chopstick users and then later for the cake (although she wouldn't sing, boo). I can not wait to be able to go again!
(5)Silvio P.
Food is good but the service is horrible, the waiter does not even attend you table or bring plates once the food is delivered... Asking a question is not possible since she does not check on you...
(2)Lindsay S.
I should premise this by saying I am 6 months pregnant and I had been walking for hours and was starving when I randomly chose this place to eat. My husband, daughter and I loved it! Generous portions and reasonable prices for really good Japanese food. Our server was as friendly and natural as can be, the seats were comfy and the setting pretty and clean.
(5)Rob W.
Ive had hit and miss experiences here. My wife loves it though so it used to be in our regular rotation when we lived in Maine. Would have liked to try some of the other options Portland has for sushi. They have your typical sushi menu, and everything is usually tasty and fresh. If you go give the "Casco Bay Roll" a try, its a spicy tuna roll, tempura dipped, fried, and drizzled with a wasabi cream sauce... You wont be disappointed. This is a good place for lunch and dinner, they also have some hibachi tables downstairs although I have never tried them.
(3)Cory M.
Great place. The Godzilla roll might look appetizing in the picture, and in theory it is, but it's giant and a little hard to handle. Get something else. I need to explore the menu a little bit more.
(3)Jay B.
Went for lunch with some of our Asian staff members and everyone thought food and service was very good! Prices also reasonable.
(4)Nicole O.
Best Japanese in Portland. Great sushi, sublime teriyaki sauce!
(5)Jessica S.
Pretty decent sushi place. Unfortunately since the owner changed, it was not same anymore. I personally knew the previous owner, who was just super hands on guy on everything from kitchen to sushi bar to downstairs hibachi table. Not only he was excellent at selecting his sushi cheifs, he was very good at running business. When he took over the place few years ago, it really turned the place around. Unfortunately the owner moved to a different state, and although their menu stayed the same, it's just not same. What a shame.
(3)Emily A.
I've been here for a couple of birthday parties where we sat at the Hibachi tables. The experience is pretty entertaining and the food is good. But I'm not sure if Fuji really understands the concept of reservations. Both times I came here with a birthday group we had reservations, but had to wait around 45 minutes for our table. Not the biggest issue in the world, we waited at the bar until our table was deemed "ready", but my point is why accept reservations if they don't plan on honoring them?
(3)Paul L.
Tsk Tsk Tsk, it may have been an off night for most of the staff but the night was playing out as if it was everyone's first day except the chef. With that said, II cannot comment for the sushi upstairs because we were down at the hibachi tables. Service aside, the food was good and there was plenty of it. The chef had some mad skills and was very funny.
(3)Jessica M.
Great place to go for sushi and tempura. Has a very nice atmosphere and reasonably priced food. Always good sushi specials.
(4)Andrew K.
I have not visited the sushi restaurant. I've only come here for the hibachi. The food I think is excellent as it may very well be the best fried rice I've ever had. I've had everything on the teppanyaki menu except for the lobster so far. I have been impressed with the depth and flavor without a large number of seasonings and ingredients. Sometimes simple is just better. The teriyaki chicken, salmon, ny strip, and filet are all cooked well and moist. The chefs do a good job getting a perfect medium rare on the beef. It's a bit loud and crowded during a busy night. I wish it was in a larger space, but in the old port loud and crowded is usually the norm anyways. The experience itself is very entertaining as the chefs make an attempt to engage everyone at the table and keep everyone entertained. It's still fun to watch even after multiple visits. It's the perfect night out for a birthday party or just with a group of friends.
(4)Mike S.
Oh Fuji, you always confuse me with what I want to rate you... Lets start with the food -- I haven't explored the sushi very much here but tried a piece of friends sushi on occasion. Nothing is every impressive looking or tasting and the selection is typical for a middle end sushi place. Lets put it this way, I don't come here for sushi, and wouldn't suggest this be your sushi go-to. The hibachi food is typical in flavor, look and variety. It is not Benihana in flavor by any stretch. The chicken and steak are cooked appropriately but the meats aren't super fancy seasoned nor exciting in flavor. The look of the dishes is ... blah ... for lack of better words. I've seen Chinese take out look better on a plate. That being said, its decent.. as in I finish my plate, but don't dream of eating here nor coming for the food. So why do I even keep coming back? Well, its a great place to come with friends and have a fun meal. The drink menu is limited although there's a good selection of sake, but there are a few different selections... nothing that will excite a beer geek or a cocktail lover. The chef's are fun and personable and make the place worth going. It is definitely not the top notch hibachi show and there's not super fancy tricks. Its pretty much the same tricks each time actually. With all this talk, why don't I rate it a 1 star? Well, for some reason its always fun and I'm happy when I leave ... I'm sure the great company is what helps. To having a place that I always leave happy and allows our group to have a good time, I give a second star.... this is NOT your foodie place to go however.
(2)Fred S.
My wife and I have eaten at Fuji several times, we've done the hibachi tables, the dining room, and the sushi bar; each a fine experience, for the most part. The majority of the time the food at Fuji is quite fresh and very well done. I prefer to eat sashimi and Cathy prefers sushi rolls, so we stick with that (except for at the hibachi). There are other items on the menu, which always look nice when passing by on the way to another table. Most of the time your sushi/sashimi will be beautiful, but sometimes the b-team is behind the bar, which happens on occasion. The hibachi tables are a blast, but you really need to be in a group of four or more to get the most out of it. If they ask you if it is OK to have strangers join you, say yes, it is totally worth it! The chef makes everything in front of you to order, very fresh and full of buttery goodness. They also put on a show for you, juggling spatulas and throwing food in your mouth, It can get as crazy or be as reserved as you want, the chef can usually read the group. Don't forget to tip! In all of the years I've gone to Fugi the faux-Japanese decor has never changed, it is broken up into seperate rooms: A main dining room, one of those japanese-style rooms where you sit on the floor with your shoes off, the hibachi room, and a lounge/bar with a big TV. The staff is usually very friendly, a few of them have been there for a long time and will remember you by name after a while. When we were there on our anniversary last year, our waitress bought (yes, bought!) us a beautiful desert, after serving us a wonderful dinner. Overall Fugi in Portland is a fine place to get a nice meal, take the family and grab some hibachi, the kids will love it!
(4)June K.
First of all, this place is SOLID. I don't understand what the complaints are all about. Every time I go to Portland I make a point to eat at Fuji. First time I went was for one of my girlfriend's birthday. I did not expect that much from a sushi restaurant but I had so much fun! Not only you get amazing food from hibachi grill but the spectacles were equally amazing! Even compared to a lot of restaurants in NYC, this is better than the most! I went back few more times when I went to visit my friends. I ate upstairs for the normal dining experience, and it was awesome! I am not sure that they just use the good fish or because it is close to the ocean, the fish quality was superb. I love love love all their rolls! After going there many times, I developed the list of my favorite that I have to get every time I go there. YOU HAVE TO TRY - Fuji roll - Jalapeno Tempura - Lobster roll (Yum x100) - Spicy Tuna Salad - Casco Bay Roll - Oyster Tempura I LOVE THIS PLACE. MUST GO!!!!!!!!
(5)Rob W.
Ive had hit and miss experiences here. My wife loves it though so it used to be in our regular rotation when we lived in Maine. Would have liked to try some of the other options Portland has for sushi. They have your typical sushi menu, and everything is usually tasty and fresh. If you go give the "Casco Bay Roll" a try, its a spicy tuna roll, tempura dipped, fried, and drizzled with a wasabi cream sauce... You wont be disappointed. This is a good place for lunch and dinner, they also have some hibachi tables downstairs although I have never tried them.
(3)Cory M.
Great place. The Godzilla roll might look appetizing in the picture, and in theory it is, but it's giant and a little hard to handle. Get something else. I need to explore the menu a little bit more.
(3)Lindsay S.
I should premise this by saying I am 6 months pregnant and I had been walking for hours and was starving when I randomly chose this place to eat. My husband, daughter and I loved it! Generous portions and reasonable prices for really good Japanese food. Our server was as friendly and natural as can be, the seats were comfy and the setting pretty and clean.
(5)Sarah E.
Only gave it 4 stars because i have yet to try the sushi. I had the shrimp hibiachi (spelling error here I assume) and it was very good! My group and I had a lot of fun, and our cook Yoshi was really funny and entertaining. The food was SO good! I didn't even need the sauces to go with my shrimp. I had the fried rice with my meal and the lo mein noodles were very good too. For a drink the Sake Mojoito is out of this world!! sooo good! Great place to go with a group for a fun night out before hitting the bars, etc... The decor is nice, nothing too formal, and the staff was friendly but could have been a little bit more attentive. PRO: Food Atmosphere Validated Parking CON: Pricey
(4)Kayti C.
We had their calamari first and it was delicious so we were expecting a great dinner but their sushi and rolls were very sad. They didn't even use real crab in a lot of their rolls. Meh, wouldn't go back. Especially since it's a bit on the pricier side.
(2)Chris C.
I went here twice and ordered the sushi sashimi combo on both occasions. The fish is fresh and the sushi filling. The wasabi is so-so. However, definitely try out the white tuna. Will come back again, and maybe try out different menu items. They have Kirin beer.
(4)Marie C.
We found this place while wandering Fore Street on a weekend getaway. First off, you should allow time to window shop at all the unique and locally owned shops nearby before or afterwards..they're very pleasant, and it's nice to see independently owned places still exist. The restaurant itself offers a nice, spacious upstairs dining option with tatami seating, and a more traditional Japanese dining environment. Downstairs offers a spacious, active bar scene, with several large habachi style tables - ideal for larger groups. We ate upstairs, and found the service very friendly, knowledgable, and kid-friendly. The food was very good -- not Blue Fin in Cambridge, MA's excellent - but very good indeed. The menu consists of a lot of sushi options, the typical teriaki and tempura offerings, and a few nice Korean choices. We enjoyed the edamame, miso soup, and our entrees were large and a good value for the price. They also have a good cold and hot sake menu, and offer a few local beers as well. There is free, validated parking available at the nearby Fore St. garage, and there are two good gelato places right around the corner, as well as a great, local French coffee and pastry place, if that's what you're craving..
(4)lyndsey F.
I've been here quite a few times and I think it is an okay sushi place. The sushi itself is alright but it's a bit expensive for what it is. I also don't love that they promote their "specialty" rolls so much...All of the fried stuff and fake fish and meat filled rolls - this is a tell tale sign of an iffy sushi place. I probably wouldn't take this place over most other sushi places in town, but I think that this is the only one open from lunch through dinner. xoxo
(3)Melissa B.
We went to Fuji for my boyfriend's birthday (they were totally cool with us bringing a cake) and went specifically for the hibachi. I had a vague idea of hibachi antics but didn't realize how fun it would be. We went with rice and noodles, the shrimp appetizer was tasty. the two guys in the party got steak, I got a mixed seafood, and another member of the party got chicken. We all sampled bits of each other's food (I did not share parts of my lobster tail, I'm greedy) and it was all so delicious. Steaks were cooked perfectly, seafood was perfect and not over cooked, chicken was moist and flavorful. The whole experience was wonderful, and our waitress was very accommodating in getting forks for the non chopstick users and then later for the cake (although she wouldn't sing, boo). I can not wait to be able to go again!
(5)Silvio P.
Food is good but the service is horrible, the waiter does not even attend you table or bring plates once the food is delivered... Asking a question is not possible since she does not check on you...
(2)Sony M.
Ah-mazing... I had the sushi, and I've never had anything so fresh. The rest of my party had the hibachi grill and loved the food as well as the atmosphere and wonderful chef! We were there for a bachelorette party, but I am planning on bringing my daughter here this summer... absolutely perfect!
(5)Jay B.
Went for lunch with some of our Asian staff members and everyone thought food and service was very good! Prices also reasonable.
(4)Thomas T.
if i ever got the chance to be on "best thing i ever ate", i would without a doubt choose the jalapeno tempura at fuji. the first time my girlfriend and i stumbled into fuji, we were japanese cuisine virgins. as we learned to use chopsticks, we learned a new love for this colorful, flavorful, incredible food. we've gone through a few times now and i still have never been disappointed. tonight however, was the absolute best of the best. i passed on my favorite, trusty jalapeno tempura to keep it light. you can always find us with a boston roll (cooked salmon & cuke) and a garden salad with the best miso dressing weve had on the table. that, combined with the signature 'fuji roll' and a mai tai... it was a great meal. but not was a perfect night out complete without our entertainment/chef pitching us, and the rest of the sushi bar crowd, this amazing nibble of seared tuna, smothered in spicy sauce and then striped with a coupling of wasabi mayo and this sweet bbq-esque sauce. it's my go to.
(5)Dani W.
Contrary to other postings, we have never had a bad meal here. The Casco Bay roll is always a favorite and is delicious when paired with their spicy dipping sauce (that usually if for their calamari (another yummy dish)). Another favorite is their ginger dressing on their house salad. Often I have found dressings at other sushi restaurants to have a strong flavor and bad texture. The atmosphere is relaxed and a great place to enjoy the company of friends.
(5)Drew T.
This is a favorite among my friends and I, whenever I visit Maine I usually end up here! It's my sisters absolute favorite and she's a regular whenever she goes and visits our parents. It's all about the teriyaki chicken! The fried rice is amazing! Great selection in beers and wine, if you haven't been here - check it out. Great atmosphere every time I've went, hibachi style really adds to the meal itself.
(5)Daniel D.
Wandering Portland while on tour, my drummer and I got it in our heads that we needed sushi quickly for takeout. Fuji may not look like a takeout place upon first glance, but they were very accommodating. The time from order to sushi-in-hand was only about ten minutes. The hostess was very nice and helpful in explaining which fish was local and where it all came from. My crab Cali-roll was incredibly fresh as was my tekko roll. Very good seaweed salad as well. I read their menu while waiting, and they do tempura, noodle dishes and all kinds of Japanese and Korean dishes. Overall, Fuji was very friendly and very tasty, with very reasonable prices. When you get tired of clams, lobster and chowder, give Fuji a try.
(3)Jay H.
The presentation at Fuji is second to none. I feel bad eating the food because it looks so pretty on the plate. Okay, I don't feel that bad, because it's also darned tasty. The best thing I've eaten there was a tempura fried jalapeño stuffed with tuna and cream cheese. I'm afraid it was a special, so I may not experience its magnificence again. The food is good, the service is good, and the atmosphere is good. The only thing keeping me from giving that fifth star is the caliber of the other sushi restaurants in Portland. That being said, I've always gone home from Fuji very happy.
(4)Kellie B.
I am absolutely shocked to see that Fuji doesn't even have 4 stars! This is some of the best and freshest sushi i have ever had! I used to live in Portland and went to Fuji a lot. In february i was visiting and i tried the Hibachi downstairs for the first time and it was amazing! I got shrimp and scallops! yum yum yum
(5)Chris P.
One chicken katsu and one order of sashimi, down the pipes! Portions were pretty generous here, and I was happy to find that the waitstaff was attentive, filling my water no less than five times. I had been out walking all day in the sun during the hottest day to date in Portland! The katsu was two large breaded pieces of chicken and tasted just like my friend Miki made it at home. It was served with some cabbage and rice. The sashimi was also pretty good, though we left the fish eggs (I have issues with weird textures). Cute setting, great location (if you're a tourist, I suppose). It's on Exchange Street amongst all the tourist hoo-ha.
(4)Kathy K.
Meh. It might have been a bad day to visit. I may try again. Service was slow and inattentive. I enjoyed the spicy shrimp soup and ordered a shumai app. The soup came, I finished it and had to tell the mgr I still needed my shumai. Even after the waitress asked if I wanted my two dishes together. Anyway, draws in a good lunch crowd and I would like to give it another go. Good location.
(3)Emily A.
I've been here for a couple of birthday parties where we sat at the Hibachi tables. The experience is pretty entertaining and the food is good. But I'm not sure if Fuji really understands the concept of reservations. Both times I came here with a birthday group we had reservations, but had to wait around 45 minutes for our table. Not the biggest issue in the world, we waited at the bar until our table was deemed "ready", but my point is why accept reservations if they don't plan on honoring them?
(3)Sam N.
It wasn't bad sushi. It was fine. The presentation was a little better than the actual food. It was relatively cheap for lunch, though. I only had the sushi. I can't comment on the other parts of the place.
(3)Michael P.
We go here quite a bit. Te sushi is good, the tatami room is quite comfortable. My wife does not eat sushi and there is plenty on the menu for her.
(4)Marshunda S.
I know sushi is expensive...but REALLY?!?!? I was not impressed with the sushi there. I have been three times just to make sure that I wasn't being too jaded. I ordered three different sushi plates....not my cup of tea. I think I was paying for the interior decorating over the taste of the food.
(1)Nicole O.
Best Japanese in Portland. Great sushi, sublime teriyaki sauce!
(5)Paul L.
Tsk Tsk Tsk, it may have been an off night for most of the staff but the night was playing out as if it was everyone's first day except the chef. With that said, II cannot comment for the sushi upstairs because we were down at the hibachi tables. Service aside, the food was good and there was plenty of it. The chef had some mad skills and was very funny.
(3)Jessica M.
Great place to go for sushi and tempura. Has a very nice atmosphere and reasonably priced food. Always good sushi specials.
(4)Jessica S.
Pretty decent sushi place. Unfortunately since the owner changed, it was not same anymore. I personally knew the previous owner, who was just super hands on guy on everything from kitchen to sushi bar to downstairs hibachi table. Not only he was excellent at selecting his sushi cheifs, he was very good at running business. When he took over the place few years ago, it really turned the place around. Unfortunately the owner moved to a different state, and although their menu stayed the same, it's just not same. What a shame.
(3)Daniel C.
I have found my new place for sushi. I was a frequent patron of King of the Roll, but decided to give Fuji a try. The atmosphere is great on the inside, real authentic, unlike King of the Roll. For starters we tried the seafood dumplings, served with a spicy mustard. They were excellent, not gummy, and had nice seafood flavor. We also sampled the edamame. Not much to say about these, served steamed and salted, very simple but good. For sushi, I sampled 4 different ones. Among them were the Casco Bay, friend yellowfin and avocado. Old Port, crispy salmon skin, Spicy Yellowfin, and Eel sashimi. The best were the yellowfin and eel sashimi. All were very fresh tasty and presented beautifully. The Casco Bay was not what I was expecting. The whole roll was deep fried, not just the tuna, it was also covered in a mayonnaise type sauce. Overall, the Fuji is now my go to sushi restaurant. The food was fresh and reasonably priced. However, some are the mixed drinks (Mai Tai) turned out to be very strong. Maybe it was a fluke thing. Note, this is a review of just the sushi part of Fuji, I have yet to be to the Hibachi side of the restaurant.
(4)Amanda V.
I believe that Fuji was only my second experience dining out for Japanese food. I went on a Thursday night with five other people, and we were all very pleased with our meals. Quick service for a group that large! I'm excited to go for Hibachi some night, but didn't because I feared an extreme price jump if I went downstairs. I ate upstairs and ordered Yasai Udon (Udon noodles and vegetables in vegetable broth) for $12. I would suggest that a veggie dish have more vegetables, but overall, it was pretty tasty. Crisp and filling, really not a bad dinner option for a group!
(3)D L.
I have to say, the service here was some of the worst service I have ever experienced. My friends and I went to Fuji to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. Out of our party of twelve, three had been to the Hibachi tables before and absolutely LOVED Fuji before this. The meal started horribly when we were served a Fuji bowl, a $40 Fuji bowl, that was all sugar. We told our server that we did not want them to comp the drink, but that we would prefer if they would simply make it less sweet. Our server returned by saying that they would not comp it or fix it, offered us dessert instead, and said that the reason for this was that we had complained about a Fuji bowl previously and had it comped. The majority of us had never been here before, while the rest of us had been there once before and loved the drink we were served, so this was completely false. When we asked to speak to the manager, our server replied with, "the bartender is the manager". Afterward, a couple of people from our party chose to speak with the manager/bartender and asked for the name of the owner, which he refused to give, and they also asked for his name, which he also refused to give. By the end of the meal, our entire party witnessed the staff talking rudely about us and actually watched an employee tell the hostess at the front desk not to give us the owner's name or contact information, while laughing. To top it all off, they added 20% gratuity to all of our bills to ensure that we would tip them well. The only positive to our experience was that we had an incredible chef who was able to lighten the mood a little bit. Fuji, you can ensure that all twelve of us, eight of whom work in the restaurant industry, will never return.
(1)Abby F.
This place used to be the premier joint for excellent sushi and excellent sukiyaki. Over the years, it's fallen off a bit but still offers decent food. Try the steak tataki (like carpaccio) and the sukiyaki. The service is hit-or-miss.
(3)Helen B.
I have to say, our excursion to Fuji last Saturday ended up being one of the more unpleasant restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. We were a 7-person party with a reservation for one of the hibachi tables. Overall, we had a pleasant experience: We were seated reasonably promptly, the chef was attentive and competent, the food was a tad bland but overall decent (overpriced though, for what you get), and the waitstaff was courteous (with the exception of overhearing how the bartenders don't wash out their drink mixers after each use - yuck!). However, it's how they handled the end of the meal that prompts me to give a highly negative review. It was fairly obvious that they were hustling to get us out of there, as the hibachi tables are in high demand, especially on a Saturday evening. The busboy even took our waters away! But, one of our party was in the restroom and we weren't about to leave without her. So after about 5 minutes after we paid the check, the same busboy approached us and asked us to leave! He literally said, "We need to ask you to leave so that we can give your table to someone else." Again, we know that they want to turn the table over, and were in the process of leaving, but this took us all aback, especially after we had just collectively spent $400 for dinner. No putting it nicely, like, "We hope you enjoyed your experience, yada yada yada - just basically, 'get out!'" WTF? The fact that this probably comes from management but they leave this to the busboy tells me something about the psychology of the management as well. So, if you want to be treated like you're moving along a factory line, for overpriced bland food, then by all means go to Fuji! If not, maybe try out one of the many other Japanese restaurants that Portland has to offer, where they treat you like an actual human being. UPDATE: I sent a letter to the management after this happened, because I think they should know why people aren't going to come back to their businesses. I got back some kind of strange form letter that didn't really address anything I had said, or said things that had to be untrue (e.g." we have fired the bartender who doesn't clean out the drink mixers"). Oh really? Even when I didn't give any description of who the person was? Unless they decided to go ahead and fire all their bartenders, which seems unlikely. But, in the end I wasn't surprised - this is clearly a very poorly-run establishment.
(2)Derik D.
Great fish quality, some unique dishes (like the Casco Bay), and good service. Worth it if you love sushi.
(4)Amy C.
New owners means I won't be going back. So sad it just isn't as tasty as it used to be. I'm majorly bummed out.
(2)Justin H.
Wonderul Yaki Udon, sushi, and miso soup. Good service. I'm a happy boy.
(4)T.H. J.
Fuji gets lost in the shuffle because it has been around a long time and Yokasu and Miyake generally knock your underpants off with their freshness. But, give Fuji credit where it is due. The sushi is a cut above, and...drumroll please..their Korean offerings, especially the BiBimBap will satisfy you everytime. very fresh kimchi and pickled vegetables are served with the BBB.
(4)LLoyd P.
I had lunch about two weeks ago and the food was excellent, the service was very good and the price was also very reasonable for the food that we had. I highly recommend this restaurant if you like Japanese food.
(4)Lindsay M.
This spot is absolutely huge! You can't tell from the outside, but when walking in, there's a main floor and then a downstairs area with a bar and more seating. I went for lunch with a friend and we got the Hawaiian bomb roll, the golden calamari roll, pork gyoza and another sushi roll I can't remember right now haha but everything was so good!! Extremely fresh, filling, and the Hawaiian bomb definitely packed some heat!! I also was in love with the calamari; crispy and not too chewy. The service was just ok. Not a personable girl, seemed really quiet/shy, and the bathroom was a walk to get to, but besides that, I'd definitely come back for the food! So delicious
(4)Lisa B.
6:30-7pm on a Friday night in winter. It was not busy here. I was the only person in the sushi bar. There were clearly some new hires as the hostess/server and a new guy behind the sushi bar stocking the chefs up that hadn't even been there long enough to understand the head chef's accent. It was awkward. With the new people. The head sushi chef was easily frustrated by the new people's understandable mistakes. It wasn't like it was super busy and stressful to cause the short temper. I felt borderline stalked bec the new girl behind the hostess desk kept walking by but wasn't confident yet. I get it. But the sushi chef complaining to the other server about a mistake she made entering a change to an order in the computer was a little unprofessional to do right in front of a customer sitting at the bar. The poor kid behind the sushi bar was so confused by the other sushi chef's accents at one point, I felt really bad for him. But he got in a groove slicing things and that resolved. Now for the sushi. I had the sushi regular that comes with 7 pieces of nigiri sushi, chef's choice and a California roll. It wasn't bad. But I wasn't blown away. And towards the end, I felt like the sushi pieces were biting me back because almost every single one had some hidden wasabi surprise inside. That may be some people's thing, but not mine. It was so much, I started wondering if they were trying to cover up the taste of the fish.... I really wanted to like this place a lot. It was a close, easy place to walk to from where I live. It looks so cute as is near some of my favorite shops downtown, but this experience was so very disappointing.
(2)Alex K.
I've been coming to Fuji since 2007 consistently and I have to say that as of late it has been letting me down. There was something lack luster about the food the last time I was in there, it just wasn't the same. Their spicy tuna roll is mushy instead of an actual piece of tuna with some spicy sauce. So now I just order a tekka roll and ask for a side of their spicy mayo.I will be back to give them a try because I just can't let their spicy scallop roll and avocado salad go. Also, If they bottled their house dressing I would buy it.
(3)Leah W.
I have been to Fuji many a time in my life and I am sure I will return. My parents really love eating here and for some reason, my non foodie friends are obsessed with this place and hibachi. A couple of things: -The food is solidly good. not great. not mind blowing. It is nice that this place is fairly consistent and I know what to expect. This is true for the hibachi, the sushi, and the food from the regular kitchen. It is one of the only places where you can get actual Bibimbap in Maine and not want to immediately cry. I would say that the food gets a four star for quality and a three star for authenticity. -The service is meh. While the hibachi chefs are mildly entertaining, the rest of the staff leaves something to be desired. While not outright rude, I have never (not exaggeration) had a server or host who showed any enthusiasm or emotion other than bored ice princess. This is definitely a two star deal. -The atmosphere is okay. I see where they are going with the fake Asian decorations, the fake trees, etc. The bathrooms are clean, however, and the building looks well kept. Overall, I don't hate it and I will be back when friends or family demand it. I wouldn't personally chose this as my favorite Asian or otherwise restaurant, but I have no negative feelings.
(3)Michaela M.
Convenient place to pick up to-go sushi, and the price isn't bad either. I always get exactly what I want and I never have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes. I've done the hibachi downstairs a couple of times. Also very good, and easily priced. The girls there are always super friendly and I get great service whether I'm doing take-out or dine-in. One concern: last time I went in, I had to wait a very long time for my credit card to process. Like ten minutes of me standing there waiting for their machine to read my card. And it wasn't just me- there were other people waiting too. The servers said that this happens often because their equipment is so old but the owners don't want to spend money for new stuff. I almost had to say forget about it and go back to work. I will continue to go but I hope for the server's sake they update their equipment!
(4)Beatrice T.
Have eaten here since I was a kid and living in Maine. My mother is Japanese and we have gone many times as a family. Good sushi selection, many options. I would recommend any of the raw choices. Specialty/chefs choice are good. Saketini pairs very well, as the cucumber infusion is refreshing.
(5)Alyssa H.
We should have taken the hint and turned around and walked out when it took, no joke, over ten minutes for someone to even acknowledge us standing at the hostess stand. No hostess was in sight and the multiple waitresses and sushi chefs walking by did not even say a word. Finally, a waitress noticed us looking undoubtedly annoyed and sat as at a table. Our waitress came over looking panicked and sweaty. She gave us water, but then did not acknowledge our table for another twenty minutes. We finally flagged her down and she gave a quick apology, or more like a plea for us to understand that she as very busy that night. At this point, we were clearly ready to order drinks, apps, and entrees. The food itself was really good, which was a pleasant surprise after our experience this far. We got a rainbow mako roll and another that had shrimp tempura in it. Both were great! We also got two dinner boxes which were both eaten happily. However, service once again reared it's ugly head towards the end of our meal. A friend dropped her chopstick and asked for a fork instead, but after ten minutes or so, we realized it was never coming and had to go ask the hostess, as our waitress was nowhere in sight. Then, once we got the check, we had to find someone again to give our credit card to because again, our waitress was nowhere in sight. I hate giving only two stars on a restaurant whose food was actually good, but unfortunately service is a huge part of the dining experience and it certainly had a negative impact throughout our dinner.
(2)Brandon K.
My family friends and I came to fuji's. It was my first time while they are regulars. Walking in I noticed the the awesome decor that consisted of paper lantern lights and paper walls that made it seem you were actually dining in Japan. My friends recommended the wild pork belly and I happily obliged. it was awesome! It had the right blend of spices and the flavor was extraordinary. It is a pretty small portion so if you're tryna get flu I recommend getting it as a side. I also ordered a my tai which is putting me on my ass. Still good doe. Peace.
(5)David B.
I've been coming to Fuji for 5 years, and today is the last time. This is a place that makes great (I assume) money for it's self off of whatever wedding or graduation parties they have in the basement (hibachi), while they milk whatever they can off the "sushi" upstairs. They suck, and don't get me wrong, they still make some nice noodle dishes and salads (although not on this visit) and there are glimpses of their past in a few items, but for the most part it's bland, boring, sometimes bad, micro-sushi, with a strong emphasis on micro. It's lackluster, I don't know how else to put it. Lackluster micro-sushi, there, I've said it. And most of the wait staff doesn't have a clue or care as if Fuji's turn employees over ever week, which is always your best sign of management that's nuts (which always effects the food)
(2)K G.
I would give it 4 stars but its a little over priced and the service was lackluster. Try the jalapeño tempura, very good!
(3)Patty Z.
The food was very good and the sashimi was very fresh. Unfortunately I will not go back because it is no fun to swat at dozens of fruit flies while eating.
(3)Alise K.
Chicken teriyaki lunch box. So good. Comes with salad, miso soup, appetizer of day, tempura veggies and 2 shrimp, small spring roll and choice of California roll. They don't include rice anymore, so don't forget to order a side of it.
(5)Alison S.
Never been so rushed at a restaurant before. Had reservations at 630 and they had us out by 740 and we were not seated on time. They wouldn't let us order more drinks because they wanted to use our table. Very disappointed because I heard great things about this place. It was also very expensive compared to the other hibachi restaurants in the area.
(1)Nicole B.
Call for hibachi reservations if it's a Friday or Saturday, especially in the summer. (PS The later the reservation, the more rowdy you can expect the place to be, so make earlier reservations if you plan to bring the kids.) I have particularly fond memories of coming here for dinner for my Bachelorette party and being seated with and next to a few other Bachelorette groups. The value is excellent---you get a small salad, soup, 2 shrimp appetizers, stir fry with noodles, rice and your choice meat (or vegetarian). They take care to ask if anyone at the table has allergies and will separate your food from everyone else's if you do. The chef interacted well with our group on this particular visit, even during some questionably acceptable conversations, and the waitress put up commendably with the antics of a few in the party. Unfortunately the food quality and portion sizes just don't seem to be the same as I remembered.
(3)Jax K.
Guys, I found a fantastic combination in the Fuji restaurant: Sushi and spicy scallop roll with iced cinnamon ginger tea!! Can't beat this quality of taste around here. Guys you gotta try them! I guarantee that you will love them even you don't favor sushi and roll. Tastes so good!!
(5)Puneet M.
For any non-sushi eaters like myself this place had a very delicious and large menu that will please every body. I had the dumpling soup which could have used more flavor but the noodles were amazing.
(4)Trevor G.
Visited while on vacation in Maine. I liked it so much I went back a second time. It would have been a third if the Hibachi section was open for lunch. I got the Hibachi dinner with steak and shrimp combo the first time. I thought it was a great deal getting soup and some delicious fried rice along with the protein. The second time I went for just steak because I loved it so much. I took home some leftovers which were just as good the next day. The chefs were very entertaining and sociable. The biggest surprise for me was the drinks. My first visit was spontaneous so I did not have reservations. My party had to sit at the bar to wait for a group to finish dining. Katie was tending bar that night and she was a real professions. The combination of her personality and her bartending knowledge. The drinks off the menu were good but for our second round she created drinks that fit the exact taste profiles that we were looking for. This is the sort of service that I would expect in a mixology bar and not a restaurant bar. Fuji will likely be my first stop the next time I am in Portland.
(5)Mimi Y.
Absolutely delicious food. Don't forget to try the tempura jalapeño! The staff is incredibly nice and gave us a table 2min before closing. *Note that the real closing time is 9:00 (not 10, as Yelp lists). What a delicious way to start our stay in Portland - enjoy!
(5)Christopher C.
Holy pork belly Batman. The grilled wild pork belly was in the running for best app ever. Better than most Michelin started spots. It came with a golchuchang sesame paste basted on while grilling and tasted like pork heaven. the Sushi was fantastic, the lobster didn't disappoint. And the cocktails were deliciously strong. Definitely worth a repeat visit.
(5)Angi B.
Great food. Skip the vegetarian sushi options (pretty tasteless) and go for the noodles (excellent). Great wine and saki options.
(4)Megan D.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Fuji! Although, I don't like sushi, I have gone to Fuji for lunch, dinner and Hibachi. The hibachi is the best around, the drinks are good and the chefs are fun! Reservations HIGHLY encouraged, and even then you usually end up waiting for quite some time.
(5)Marco t.
Jack and Ken at the bar are awesome! They try and "one-up" each other which does two things: make the sushi quality and presentation sublime. Also, it makes for a memorable eat. I value their attention to detail, their attention to the customer. In my last two visits, ken and jack have educated me on the craft of sushi and the other other traditional styles of this japanese cuisine. I have a lot of sushi-- west coast, east coast and these guys made my two days there at Fuji Japanese Restaurant in Portland, ME a memorable one. Come in, sit at the bar, have these guys surprise you. It's rewarding.
(4)Becca B.
This place is fantastic! Has the best looking atmosphere and the food was excellent and with great portions. Ended up getting a vegetable sushi plate and we all shared a scorpion bowl. Very delicious. Will make it a point to return if I am in the area.
(4)Bailey Z.
For a sushi restaurant so close to the sea, I expected fresh seafood and Fuji delivered. The restaurant itself has a clean, contemporary feel with a welcoming atmosphere. For the diner on a budget, the lunch box offers a sampling of a variety of sushi, meat, salad, and soup for $11-13. I, myself, could not resist trying both the udon and a couple of the signature rolls. The Nabe-yaki udon has a nice seafood broth with hot pot egg, vegetables, fish cake, and shrimp tempura. I didn't care too much for the sweet egg, but I was impressed by how well the noodles were cooked. For the rolls, I tried the Fuji and the Rainbow Hako. The crunchy white tuna was a nice creative addition to the classic rainbow roll. The fish from both rolls were fresh and enjoyable. Despite a couple of head scratching Korean dishes on an otherwise completely Japanese menu, Fuji is a nice lunch spot in Portland. The prices are decent and it stands as one of the more legitimate sushi restaurants to try in New England (outside of Boston).
(4)Mondae B.
Ahhhh what is there not to love about Fugi?!?! In my book there is nothing not to love!!! We walk in the door and we are always greeted like old friends coming for a visit. We always sit at the sushi bar & enjoy looking at the fresh fish, watching the chefs create their masterpieces & enjoying conversations with Jack & the other Chefs. What is our favorite, wow that's tough.... I always have to have a spicy scallop roll & casco bay roll. Jack always creates an amazing sashimi plate for us. The monk fish liver is a must as well! We have also eaten down at the hibachi & have an amazing time & meal. Thank you Fugi for always making our dining experience amazing!
(5)Justine J.
One of my favorite spots in Portland. The staff is always friendly and helpful (ALWAYS), the food is DELICIOUS (I always get the avocado salad, miso soup, and some combination of sushi rolls), the place is always clean, never too crowded, and lots of options for seating. Good people watching out the windows, too.
(5)S And E H.
Love Love Love this place. Amazing sushi and wonderful people. I can't think of anything sashimi or sushi related that we didn't love. When we leave I always have a smile on my face and feel as if we could be "rolled out'.
(5)Abdulrahman Z.
Ahh this place was pretty good! I've always loved hibachi and it's not the best hibachi I've had but still worth going to. I was kinda disappointed with portions they gave us but the chef was awesome. He was very nice and had lots of tricks up his sleeve. Giving it 4 stars because of portion size.
(4)Jimmy H.
By far the best hibachi I have had! Their fried rice is amazing! Never had a bad feel here. The portions are huge and the chefs are some of the most skilled and friendly hibachi chefs I have seen! I love entertaining clients here!
(5)Laura L.
The food is really good, but it's definitely on the pricey side. There is no parking whatsoever, so beware.
(5)Tiffany T.
Here is the skinny - go on Fridays or Saturdays for a fresher selection of raw fish! If you prefer food of the cooked variety and are a fan of noodles, their yaki udon will hit the spot. For some good rolls, check out the Hawaiian Bomb and Fuji roll. Their salmon sashimi is very good for Maine. Booze patrol - they have a huge bowl of margarita you can get and "share" with a friend. This is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland. Tip well, the servers will remember you and give you better service!
(4)Steff D.
I had ALWAYS wanted to try Fuji's. Growing up, it always seemed to be where the cool kids ate. Friends and I went to the movies the other night, and Fuji's location made it an ideal spot for dinner. There was no wait upstairs, and we were ushered to a table in the back almost immediately. Unfortunately, the table we were sat at was right next to a major leak in the ceiling. Why they sat us here when there were plenty of open tables away from it was confusing. The bucket catching the water was overflowing so the floor was covered. On my way back from the bathroom, I slipped in a puddle, crashed into one of the tables, and knocked the bucket of water all over me. I received quite the sizeable and painful welt on both my elbow and knee because of it. Spending the rest of my dinner wet, cold, in pain, and totally embarrassed wasn't really what I wanted from my first experience at Fuji (or before sitting in an air conditioned movie theater). This is why it's getting three-stars from me. Was the sushi good? Meh - it was okay; definitely not the tastiest in town. I liked that the vegetarian sushi was only like $4 or $5 - and since the price is right, I would definitely go back... but only if it wasn't raining outside/they took better safety precautions.
(3)Amelia H.
I have been to Fuji every summer for the last three years. Sometimes twice. Unfortunately for you, I didn't have yelp back then--a sin, I know. Well I visited Maine this weekend and went again. I would have given it five stars in the past, but it wasn't quite as good this time. Here is what you need to know. The Mai Tais are amazing. It is worth the extra $2 to get fried rice. The filet is to die for. Always get the chicken with terriyaki on it. The food is really, really good.
(4)Jason D.
Paula Deen is now making Southern-style sushi. More on that in a minute. First off, the Udon noodle dish with shrimp was great. Additionally, the beef teriyaki lunch box was very good as well, with many different items making for a great meal (comes with the beef teriyaki, a sushi roll, salad, tempura, a fried crab dumpling and a fried roll). However, we also ordered the Casco Bay roll and the Spicy Scallop roll and they could have only have been made by Paula Deen. Each roll was absolutely smothered in mayonnaise. I grew up in the South, and I put mayonnaise on things most people wouldn't, but eating these rolls was like eating a bowl of mayo with rice thrown in for texture. The rolls were so heavy handed and in complete contrast to what I enjoy about sushi, which is the clean, bright, crisp flavors. I couldn't actually taste the other ingredients. And on a side note, I realize it was a lazy day at the restaurant (being MLK day), but the waitress always seemed to be missing for extended periods. I would come back to try the hibachi, and for more entrees, but I'm unlikely to order sushi from here again (sorry Paula), especially since there is better & cheaper sushi in the area.
(3)nicole w.
Usually go to Sapporo but it was closed so we went here for lunch and I was very disappointed. The food was boring and not well prepared. The salmon teriyaki was fatty, as was the pork belly, which was served on a 'bed' of raw onion which added nothing to the dish. Nothing in the bento box tasted good -- the tempura was flat, the salad was old and the agedashi tofu, one of my favorites, tasted like cardboard. The service, like the food, was underwhelming.
(2)