Biwa

pdxstar76 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

Beware of Biwa! – My friend and I recently went to Japan. After reading the review on WW and looking at the menu, we were really excited to try Biwa because we have been craving good ramen. The atmosphere almost seemed like it was trying too hard to be a trendy hipster Japanese joint. The staff was very helpful and friendly, and that was the highlight of our dining experience. The ramen was horrible! The noodles were gummy and chewy, the broth grotesquely salty and the miso pork tenderloin tasted like breakfast ham. The bowl... read more

itsdannymurphy 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

This is NOT ramen – The second I read the Willamette Week blurb about Biwa's ramen I made plans for me and my Japanese fiance to go check it out. We have been craving ramen since we moved back to Portland from Japan. The standard bowl of $8 ramen consists of thick noodles (average), weak broth, and onions that were burnt. All of the items that should be included in a good bowl of noodles like an egg, seaweed, pork, and leeks were offered for extra charges between $1-4. So we ended up spending $11 on a mediocre bowl of ramen.... read more

dhawke98 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

Just like Japan, only local! – The yakitori was awesome, the best I have had since I quit travelling to Japan. My wife wasn't enthused by her udon. She felt it was too salty and no flavour, just like in Japan. Everything I had was perfect. The staff was very friendly and fairly prompt to serve. We plan on going back and trying more of the menu. It was a very pleasant experience. Don't leave your valuables in your car, the neighbourhood is a little creepy and homeless camp in the parking lot close by... 

reasonablefoodie 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

simple, wholesome, yummy – we all wanted something 'light' but warm, and took a friends' recommendation to try biwa. the atmosphere is just fancy enough, and just relaxed enough - comfortable industrial, really, though flooded with trustfund-hipsters, it seemed. the waitstaff, while busy, was still very attentive and friendly. the food - yummy. probably the best udon i've had since in japan. the broth of the vegetarian (vegan?) kitsune udon was a little bland, but my meat-loving friends' bowls were simply raved about. we'll ... read more

reflex01 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

Such disappointing ramen... – Biwa was quite a disappointment for me. I wanted SO MUCH to like the place, but really it came down to their ramen. For a restaurant that bills ramen as one of their specialties, it was profoundly disappointing to be served a bowl of bland, overcooked noodles with a flavorless broth. Never you mind the local reviewers... they don't know ramen worth jack. Ramen noodles are supposed to be slightly sauteed before boiling, thus retaining a wonderful chewiness that Biwa's noodles lacked. The broth is... read more

Contributor 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

Seductive basement noodle house brings ramen and Japanese izakaya cuisine to Portland. – A short flight of stairs divides this cement-walled restaurant and bar, where diners congregate in a dimly lit room to the left or a crowded cluster of tables to the right. An ample counter bar wraps around an open kitchen, providing plenty of theatrics for the sake-swilling East Burnside crowd seated elbow-to-elbow. From the dinner hour to late night, the conversational buzz rises steadily as patrons warm up over steaming hotpot soups a... read more

gonzoboy 

on Citysearch

17 years ago

Great Japanese Specialties, To Order – Four of us went to Biwa for dinner on a Saturday night on the strength of the review in The Oregonian. One of our party was Japanese, I've traveled there in the past. Biwa offers a really great selection of very authentic Japanese "finger food" and traditional noodle dishes that are cooked to order with fresh ingredients, including "home made" noodles. They also make their own kimchi, which was superior. We got there early and discovered very good "happy hour" prices. The service was fa... read more