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Mami

Food truck turned brick-&-mortar serving Japanese-style street food in a lively, comfortable space.

Mami is bringing delicious izakaya style food to Portland, ME. We are a restaurant and food truck! 

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Features

Mami
Excellent
Mami
4.7
Based on 480 reviews
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Krystina Gibbons (FINN)
Krystina Gibbons (FINN)
Great little asian food joint. Friendly staff. Excellent food and drinks menu. All their cocktails are wine or sake based, and they are delicious. Try the Porch Hang!
Jedediah McGill
Jedediah McGill
Attentive service and incredible food. The best meaI I've had in months. Quiet enough to have a conversation comfortably, unique drinks and the perfect place for date night!
Steven Hajny
Steven Hajny
I have been visiting Mami since they were a food truck. I have taken numerous business clients here as it is perfectly located in Old Port so easy to get to. Atmosphere has always been warm and welcoming and the food has been top notch. Personally soft shell Katsu when it is on the menu is the best but you can't go wrong with okomiyaki either.
John Harvey
John Harvey
I have had the pleasure of eating at Mami about a dozen times over the past several years. I go to Mami on my most special occasions because I know that every time I go, the experience will be consistent and professional in the quality of the food, the presentation, the welcoming atmosphere and knowledgeable staff, and the timeliness and accuracy of my order. The location in the Old Port is great, and makes for a fun way to string dinner together with a night out on the town.Pictured below are a trip to their food truck on Thompson's Point in 2019, and takeout (hopeful dog pictured) during the most difficult period of the pandemic in April 2020 when food from Mami provided delightful comfort.My grandfather grew up in Japan and my mom spent her earliest years there. It brought me so much joy to bring my mom to Mami in 2021 where we were able to share a wonderful memory with the delicious food and kind staff who were still so incredibly mindful of the pandemic environment at the time.In 2023, I brought takeout on the boat while I showed my closest friends up from D.C. a bit of Casco Bay, and stopped on the dock for a taste of Mami. I could barely snap a photo before the end of my buddy's Big Mami burger disappeared.The last couple of photos are from my birthday this year that my wife and I celebrated at Mami this past April. We can't leave before having the karaage, nikuman, and katsu sando, and always enjoy trying something new when we stop in. We are so lucky to have a place like Mami in Portland, and have been meaning to write a review for some time now. I highly recommend checking it out for anyone who hasn't been.
JT TC
JT TC
Stopped by as a tourist and wanted to try something other than lobster for dinner. We were impressed. My family of four with two teenagers loved the food. We especially enjoyed the Yakisoba, which I found to be flavorful and delicious. Living in Japan many years ago, finding an excellent Yakisoba has been difficult until today!
Christy Liss
Christy Liss
Had lunch. It is a small place with limited seating. Had rice ball and sweet potato appetizers. Tasty. We had the vegetable and noodle bowl, the steak and rice bowl and the chicken sandwich. All were very good. Three beers on tap and several sakis.
Morganne Freeborn
Morganne Freeborn
Hidden gem in a very cool part of town. The servers are knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The vibe is spot on and the food is out of this world good. I drive 2 hours to eat here!! Gluten free options are available and there are fun non-alcoholic drinks. If you’re intimidated by the language on the menu ask questions - the servers are happy to guide you through this stunning culinary journey!!
Carmello Bilotti
Carmello Bilotti
one of my fave spots in Portland!! everything there I’ve had is delicious, especially the Katsu sando which is absolutely amazing
Maddie Bracher
Maddie Bracher
Very yummy!! The karaage was nice and crispy and the buns were very soft. Casual spot to go and was filled on a Friday night and didn’t even have to wait the full 10 min that they told us it would be for two. Only wish they had cocktails but don’t mind having something in a can instead
Bethany
Bethany
This place is so good. Slaps with flavor and I always leave recommending this place more and more! The chicken katsu sandwich is so delicious and the shishito pepper appetizer has to be one of my favorite snacks! The owners, Hana and Austin are amazing people and the food is always top notch quality!
Brendan Johnson
Brendan Johnson
I wish you could give half stars because this place was probably a 3.5 and not 4. We had some buns and the chicken sandwich. Decent but nothing extraordinary. There are lots of things on the menu that sounded good that we did not get but the selections were fairly limited. With so many other great places left to try in Portland and so many places we love I can't see uss going back - but don't let that stop you from trying it, we all have different tastes and I feel like I'm in the minority here given their really solid rating.
Brianna Roberge
Brianna Roberge
So good! The restaurant had a neat vibe. The sake cocktail was on point. We had the octopus balls and the beef rice bowl. Oh my goodness!
Kashmira Patel
Kashmira Patel
Authentic Maxican restaurant with variety of food. They can make changes for vegetarian meals!! Excellent service. My kids enjoyed eating Enchiladas, guacamole dip with their spicy sauce & chips.
MATT GRABOWSKI
MATT GRABOWSKI
The Okonomiyak was a delicious quick bite. Would have been great with a few beers. It's chewy and crispy with mayo and barbecue sauce flavor inside.PS check out their really cool presentation of the shaved mushrooms. The heat from the food appears to be making them move. I have never seen this before anywhere.
Alistair Guy
Alistair Guy
Great pork belly, everything else ok. Sweet part of town, shame about the traffic right outside
Sinitron “Sinitron”
Sinitron “Sinitron”
Visited Mami on Fore St with my family while on vacation for lunch. Sat outside and enjoyed a couple of staff suggested beers with our food. We got takoyaki, nikuman (both pictured) and yaki onigiri to start. I have been trying to find takoyaki for a long time and had to try it. Everything looked great and was well made crispy without being overdone or soggy inside and tasted delicious. We split an okonomiyaki and the katsu sando (pictured), both dishes were big with the chicken sandwich being an absolute monster, easily enough for 2 people to split. Great spot and vibe, would love to return in the future!
Katherine Kukay
Katherine Kukay
Mami is one of my absolute favorite places to get food! They don’t have a ton of celiac-friendly options, but the safe plates they do have are incredible. The Poke Don is my favorite dish EVER, I literally dream about it. I recently went & got the Yaki Imo for the first time and wow, it was amazing! I’ve never gotten anything here that I didn’t love. My fiancé is a huge fan of the Karaage fried chicken. Do yourself a favor & check this place out 😍 I typically takeout, but dining in is a great option, their space is lovely!
Julian Mayorquin
Julian Mayorquin
Love mami the staff is always super welcoming and attentive. I've never had a bad dish from them and would highly recommend mami.
Tiffany Xiong
Tiffany Xiong
What a great place to grab lunch. Onigiri was mouth watering!!! Kind service and delicious food.
Sejal Patel
Sejal Patel
Came in for a quick bite and and drink last week! The service was on point and the buns I had were super tasty. The chili crisp made it perfect. Loved the vibe and definitely wished I would have tried more items. Check them out if ever in Portland!
Samreena A
Samreena A
This is such a great spot, love love the food here. The karaage is one of the best in town.
Darksahde
Darksahde
Delicious Japanese style food and restaurant. Cozy and friendly staff. Drink selection is also great
Eddie Moy
Eddie Moy
Decided to have dinner here. Walked in and it was virtually empty. The staff said sit where ever you want. We chose a seat the the back at a small table by the window. Looked through the menu and decided to try everything. The waitress had some cold demeanor. Very strange. After we ordered, she told us that is a lot of food. When she came back we asked if we can put two of the small tables together. Her attitude was really bad. She proceeded to grudgingly put the table together and indicated with her head for me to move one of the chairs out of the way. Then she slammed the two tables together hard almost spilling our drinks. I wanted to say something, but didn’t want to get spit in our food. She is not friendly. Didn’t smile the whole time. The other waitress was actually better. Not sure what the problem is with the first one. Anyway. The food was ok. The notable snacks are the cold cucumber in sesame oil. The pork buns was good. The fried chicken was great. Very tender and juicy. The salmon rice ball is good as well. Out of the main dishes we had, the pancake was the best. The beef rice was ok and the noodles were too salty. Finished off with the sweet potato. I guess this is a good place to try some Japanese food but I wouldn’t go back because of the poor service.
Anna Bruning
Anna Bruning
Stopped in for a quick bite, got steamed buns, octopus balls, and sake. So good, great prices for quality and location! I so wish we had this in Montana.
Mad Madame Mim
Mad Madame Mim
Mami was definitely worth the visit! The pork buns were a cut-above and my favorite dish was the rice ball. When a restaurant can take something as plain as a white-rice ball and turn it into a crunchy, spicy, deeply-flavored sensation.. that's the mark of talent. My hat off to the kitchen. The menu was brief but highly cultivated. I can see why the locals suggest it.
David Postma
David Postma
Good was affordable, fresh and delicious. Incredibly helpful staff in a great location. Me and my wife loved it and felt the dizzying array of flavors were scrumptious
Nicole Hoyt
Nicole Hoyt
Been coming here for years and convinced this is the best Japanese spot in town. A little known secret is that they have the freshest salmon Donburi bowl…possibly on the entire east coast. I asked the staff once why it was so amazing and he said it’s because they get it fresh every morning from the fish market around the corner. The salmon doesn’t even go into a truck! The flavors are so incredible and well balanced.
Victor Joly
Victor Joly
We had a great experience at Mami. The staff was friendly and super efficient and the food was great. I will say that some dishes were vastly superior to others (The pork bun was insanely good while the octopus balls didn't quite hit the mark) but it was still overall delicious and deserves 5 stars. The prices are also extremely reasonable, especially for Portland!
Bri Pedersen
Bri Pedersen
Wonderful lunch experience here. The service staff was knowledge and attentive. Really unique menu options. We got the octopus balls and they were incredible. Also a really thorough Sake menu. Great spot!
Timothea Pham
Timothea Pham
The food here was too good. My boyfriend and I were visiting from Boston and came across this place while walking around & so happy we stopped in. The service was great and every single thing we ate was to die for. We had the burger, onigiri, and bao. 10/10!!!
Samantha Ellyn
Samantha Ellyn
Incredible food and a cool, casual, welcoming vibe. Two lovely servers while we were there and quick hot yummy food! Octopus balls, steamed buns, cabbage pancake were all outstanding.
Mark Bezerman
Mark Bezerman
Super delicious food. We shared a trio of appetizers and could have demolished twice as many. The cucumber salad, as simple as that may sound, was absolutely incredible.
Amy Berg
Amy Berg
This place is fantastic! Even dealing with issues through a major power outage the crew made the best of it, and made us feel very welcome. What a great group of employees! I have been here many times and the food is consistent and always fantastic! Highly recommended!
Charlotte Whitaker
Charlotte Whitaker
If you enjoy Japanese street food, Mami is a must! The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is exceptional. Two words that will change your life: Katsu Sando!
Patrick Breen (Nebulant)
Patrick Breen (Nebulant)
One of my favorite places to get a good lunch when I am in town.
CN N
CN N
After a very cold day in Portland, my girlfriend and I were craving for savory Asian food to warm us up, so we decided to check out Mami looking for ramen. Unfortunately the ramen wasn't available (it's a special they rotate on the menu), but we weren't disappointed by what we ordered. The karaage was perfectly crispy and tender, and paired well with the yakisoba, which also included roasted brussel sprouts, one of my favorites that surprisingly went well with this Japanese noodle favorite. My girlfriend went for the gyudon, which featured tender and juicy marinated beef on top of Japanese-style white rice. Overall a great value-for-money meal if you want street food-style Japanese food.
Taylor Lanxon
Taylor Lanxon
Beautiful atmosphere, and we had the sweetest waitress! The food was AMAZING and perfectly portioned.. we had the Yakisoba and Gyudon. Would love to come here again next time im in Portland!
David W.
David W.
A very small, fun restaurant. If you are down for a food mixup, this is a great option. You won't find anything like this place in the Portland area. We purposely starved ourselves all day so we could try as much of the menu as possible and we were not disappointed by any of it!
Kate Kerrigan
Kate Kerrigan
So incredibly good!! My brother in law loves Japanese culture and told us we all needed to try Miami. I had no expectations but I have to say it was awesome! We ordered every appetizer (no shame) and they were all delicious!! Highly recommend!!
Rachel Barnes
Rachel Barnes
The food was absolutely delicious, probably some of the best Japanese food I have had in the US. My partner and I order the takoyaki and gyudon. The atmosphere was very cozy and relaxing. The staff was also very friendly!!
Zasutin Gaming
Zasutin Gaming
I absolutely loved it. I'm Japanese and I lived in Japan until when I was 13 years old. I came to United States about 8 years ago and I've tried many Japanese restaurants but this place is definitely on top of it. I'm very pleased that how high the quality of foods and price. If you are looking for some comfort food and love Japanese food, I will recommend this Mami!
Steve Marzza
Steve Marzza
Some of the best food in the city.
Tianyi Xu
Tianyi Xu
absolutely the best karaage I’ve had in a while!! wonderful service and nice interior.
Lauren Harrison
Lauren Harrison
Great food and excellent service! Will definitely be back!
Holly Ashmore
Holly Ashmore
Told the waiter I COULD NOT have dairy…After the amazing soba noodles and fried rice ball I thought I had enjoyed a meal without any stomach problems but I was mistaken. It was about an hour drive back home from Portland and with 20 minutes left of the drive my stomach HURT. I wanted to title this “I WAS POISONED” because that’s truly how I felt. Situations like this discourage me from going out to eat/eating in general. :( this was my second time at MAMI and I’ll probably go again tbh I F-ing love those soba noodles. Next time I’ll have to be extra clear I guess!
Ryan Alverdes
Ryan Alverdes
While not everything here was perfectly executed, I was still introduced to some Japanese flavors and combinations I hadn't had before, and was very happy. I would probably give out a four star rating, but it seems this place is a bit new, and I definitely want to see it survive. My katsu sandwich was a wonderful combination of flavors I haven't tasted before, but it was very heavy and make the bottom piece of bread soggy and fall apart. The meat on the boyfriend's bowl was excellent. Our appetizers were perfect bites and delicious. I don't understand the paper plates and bowls, but maybe that's temporary. There was also very unexpected music and a vibe I didn't expect, but made for a great overall experience. This was probably the best food I've ever had in Portland.
Michele Nollner
Michele Nollner
This place is AWESOME! The grilled rice ball to start was superb. Then the Gyudon was fantastic and to finish the blueberry mochi cake was perfect!
Kenneth Winship
Kenneth Winship
Undecided where and what to eat? Go to Mami. Close your eyes. Point at a random spot on the menu. You'll be impressed.
Cami Riordan
Cami Riordan
Great place to eat. The salmon was amazing. We were very pleased with the food and service.
Jacob Lotstein
Jacob Lotstein
A great place for a beer and snack food/appetizers. I get the octopus balls pretty much every time and they have never disappointed. The cabbage pancake is another solid winner in my book.
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  • Tuesday11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Wednesday11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Thursday11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Friday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
  • Saturday11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
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