Friday Food Insider: Family-run Japanese restaurant opens in Portland's Bayside neighborhood

Photo / Courtesy of Longfellow Communications Aomori launched at 52 Hanover St., on the street level of the Armature, a 171-unit apartment complex in Portland.

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By Alexis Wells

Aomori, a new Japanese restaurant by chef Masahiko Miyake and his family, opened Monday in Portland's West Bayside neighborhood.

Miyake, who has since sold the restaurants Miyake and Pai Men Miyake, launched Aomori at 52 Hanover St., on the street level of the Armature, a 171-unit apartment complex in Portland.

The 47-seat restaurant is a collaboration between Miyake, his wife Chieko Miyake, their son Reo Miyake and his partner Helen Carter.

“We want Aomori to feel like a place where people can stop by spontaneously, settle in and feel taken care of,” said Carter.

The team has built the menu, setting, and service around three guiding Japanese concepts: omotenashi, selfless hospitality; mottainai, waste not, want not; and shoshin, a beginner’s mindset.

Later in December, the team will open Aomori Kitchen + Market adjacent to the restaurant. The market will offer ready-to-go hot and cold food, pastries, desserts, beverages and pantry staples. Customers can either sit down or grab meals on the go.

About the menu

The restaurant’s opening follows months of preparation by the Miyake team, who refined a menu inspired by Japanese home cooking and the traditional flavors of the Tohoku region of northeast Japan.

Aomori’s menu features small plates, sashimi, hand rolls, soups, seasonal dishes, and Japanese comfort classics. A six-course Kaiseki pre-fixe option features chilled small plates, sashimi, a fish dish, a meat dish, rice "shime" and a dessert.

“Our goal is to bring Japanese soul food to Portland in a way that feels both deeply authentic and truly welcoming,” said Reo Miyake. “Many of our dishes are inspired by the meals we grew up eating at home. We want guests to discover something new while feeling completely comfortable. It’s food that carries memory and meaning for us, and we’re excited to share it with the community.”

Aomori is located in West Bayside on Parris Street. They’ll be open Sunday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 5-11:30 p.m., on a walk-in basis.

The restaurant and market will join the mix of neighborhood restaurants, including Wilson County Barbecue, Batson River, Bar Publica, Argenta Brewing and Hank & Artie's, a pop-up smashburger business slated to open in May.

Reader feedback

As we head into the final days before Christmas, we're on the hunt for restaurants that bring the holiday magic to life with fun décor and festive food and drink offerings. Have a place in mind? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants your tips! Email Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.