MarinePolis Sushi Land (Lloyd District)
1409 NE Weidler St.
Portland, OR 97232
503-280-0300; fax 503-280-0308

Disclaimer: All reviews and original content Copyright © Mike Blackwell [remove "nospam." or it won't work] of Oregon Sushi -- All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Came here with some friends today. I'd been to the one in Beaverton a few years earlier, but not the one on Wiedler. Like the others in the chain, the Sushi Land on Wiedler is a kaitenzushi bar, or conveyor belt sushi bar.

In addition to the usual suspects (California roll, spicy tuna roll, maguro, sake, saba, unagi, etc.), I also tried a few exotics (salmon belly, negitoro, seared ribeye steak) plus a couple special-order items I didn't see on the conveyor: hamachi and seared albacore.

The ribeye (served with slivered onions) was quite good, and likewise the saba, but (as I've come to expect with Portland kaitenzushi), few of the others really moved me, even though some were made specifically to order and came to me straight from the chef, without making the rounds of the conveyor belt. I had high hopes for the seared albacore, but it arrived overcooked, so it was too firm in the mouth. None of the nigiri had that "melt-in-the-mouth-like-buttah" feel to them, but then I hardly ever find that with kaitenzushi, so that's no big surprise.

Overall, I give Sushi Land a "B-." Nothing wrong, but nothing to draw me back for a second visit. Like I've said in previous reviews, I've yet to be blown away by Portland conveyor-belt sushi. However, I'll eventually try them all, and hopefully someday I'll have some great news.