Portland’s favorite conveyor belt sushi chef is back with new bento spot, Kashiwagi

Courtesy of Kashiwagi

Takeo Kashiwagi couldn’t have been too surprised when he learned Sushi Takahashi 2, his tiny Southwest Portland sushi restaurant, would have to close. Landlord Terwilliger Plaza, the not-for-profit retirement community across the street, had been quietly purchasing nearby houses since at least 2015, looking to expand with a new 10-story tower.

But it still stung when the closure notice came down in 2019, not least for Sushi Takahashi 2′s loyal customers. In the months after shutting his 19-seat sushi counter for good, Kashiwagi wanted to reopen in a new location. But everywhere he looked, the rent was too high to support his brand of affordable raw fish.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.