With a menu of 60-plus small plates and sushi rolls as well as one of the largest selections of sake in the Pacific Northwest (which sadly, isn’t being offered to-go), the much-lauded Syun is well worth a suburban field trip. Along with izakaya classics, there’s a board full of daily specials like smoked, grilled octopus or Copper River salmon nigiri. The restaurant is open for takeout.

Find a handful of standard izakaya snacks along with signature ramen bowls at Kizuki, the Portland outlet of this Tokyo-based franchise. Lighter shio and shoyu broths are available, but the hearty garlic tonkotsu version is deliciously rich and porky with a garnish of fried garlic for good measure. The fried chicken a.k.a. karaage is also a must-try, available a la carte with spicy mayo or served on a bed of lettuce as a salad. Takeout and delivery are available.

Another ramen hotspot in Beaverton, Yuzu quietly houses a treasure trove of izakaya dishes (though the menu is more abbreviated than it once was). Sure, Yuzu serves traditional izakaya fare like pan-fried gyoza and agedashi tofu, but the menu really stands out thanks to dishes like “Mr. Nakano’s Fried Sausage,” breaded and fried sausages served like tonkatsu, as well as its wafu Japanese-style caesar salad with parmesan, fried gobo, and creamy miso dressing. Takeout is available.

Opened in 2010, downtown Portland’s go-to izakaya has something for everyone. The thick house-made noodles are great in a classic shoyu ramen, as well as brothless versions like the kama-tama ramen tossed in onion oil and soy sauce seasoned with bonito. For something lesser-seen in Portland, try the oden, a traditional winter dish of things like daikon, hard-boiled eggs, konnyaku, and fish cakes, long-simmered in a dashi broth and served with mustard. Takeout and delivery, including sake and Japanese beer, are available.

One of Shigezo’s Portland-based sister restaurants, Izakaya Kichinto serves up standards like gyoza and sushi, but don’t overlook the deep-fried takoyaki, Japanese curry, or the house-made soba, served either hot or cold. A selection of sake and cocktails, using ingredients like Midori and Calpico, are also available to-go. Delivery and takeout are available. 

This Tokyo-based chain exemplifies the difference between Japan and the U.S. In Tokyo, Afuri is a tiny counter-seating joint, specializing in one thing: ramen. Southeast Portland’s outpost is a spacious affair with a full bar and wide-ranging menu, featuring chicken or vegetable skewers cooked by flames on the genshiyaki, an old-school Japanese grill. First-timers might want to try the signature yuzu ramen, but the menu also features creative dishes like kemuri jagaimo, smoked potatoes served with a cured Jidori egg, maitake mushrooms, pickled ramps, and sudachi aioli. Delivery and takeout are available.

Clinton’s Yama is the place for a quality sushi selection and an expansive menu filled with izakaya-style dishes, including grilled yellowtail collar, steamed monkfish liver, and miso-marinated black cod. For a fun twist on jalapeño poppers, try the stuffed jalapeño tempura, which is filled with crab salad, spicy tuna, and cream cheese, served with sweet soy sauce. Yama offers takeout and delivery.

Formerly known as Yakuza Lounge, this non-traditional izakaya moved into the former Nonna space and rebranded as a takeout and delivery-only ghost kitchen this fall. The signature Yakuza burger, topped with chevre and truffled shoestring fries, is still on the menu (and includes a Beyond Burger option), as well as a standard range of sushi rolls, nigiri, karaage, and ramen.