Meal in Heaven at Saburo’s, Oregon

 

An automatic smile highlights my face every time I’m at Saburo’s Sushi in Portland, Oregon. Going to the restaurant used to be a treat only for birthdays, and maybe once every few years, since there’s almost always a line at the door. In more recent times, I’ve been going there quite frequently and have established myself as a regular patron. If they were open on major holidays like Thanksgiving Day, I’d be there waiting in line just to celebrate.

 

One of the greatest memories at Saburo’s is that one birthday dinner with my immediate family. I will always be forever grateful for the amount of support they’ve given me, as well as the ongoing encouragement to strive and thrive for a happier lifestory. Additionally, treating me to sushi of gigantic proportions is quite the bonus.

 

For my family business, I’d go from the Northeast (NE) to the Southeast (SE) to treat a potential employee candidate to a “Saburo’s Sushi” dinner interview. On a good day, it takes about a half an hour to drive south, then at least a half an hour wait, then finally, another half hour of feasting. What better way to know a person by sharing a meal with the individual?

 

 

The local secret hole-in-the-wall place has a line at least a half an hour before it opens, but sometimes when I’m by myself in line, I am able to move quicker on the list. Of course, I don’t mind having company while waiting. I usually hope that the potential candidate would be on the same page as me and see the beauty in the business we’re patronizing.

 

When I am waiting in line by myself, I either read or work on some project I am able to travel lightly with. If I am lucky, I get a table entirely to myself. For the majority of my solo trips, they usually seat me at the sushi bar, where sometimes I strike up a conversation with other table-for-one individuals.

 

There was a “help wanted” sign up at the restaurant one day. I submitted my application. Received an interview. I remember it well because the owner told me that she’s heard nice things about me through her staff, but due to my lack of experience other than those five months at another sushi restaurant many years ago, I would be on-call.

 

I worked at Saburo’s for a day. Perhaps it was my long-overdue vacation afterward that prevented me from working there again, or maybe I had gotten too busy with my day job as a manager of a small shop on Alberta St. Or maybe it was a baffling idea that I live in three cities and the residence on my driver’s license was confusing for the owner. I don’t regret telling her the truth, my residence is an hour south of Portland and I run a small business in the NE.

 

The drive to Saburo’s is never long, the SE area of Portland is a little different than the NE, but the rain doesn’t discriminate. It is only waiting in line for dinner while in the rain that makes me a little bit more hardcore, a truly devoted fan of the local establishment.

 

My starting point doesn’t matter, I always end up at Saburo’s. I hardly ever mind the distance, be it on my way or out of my way and I go there for some sort of security comfort, grateful that I am able to afford  such a heavenly place, for the time being. Sometimes, my travels are in vain because they are closed, either by unforeseen events or by simply closing time and I just get there late.

 

Due to the lack of work at the shop where I work, I have cut back on my dinners significantly. I still frequent there at least once a month, and I am an unforgettable face there. They are unforgettable to me too. Just because business isn’t going so well, doesn’t mean I have to cut my meal in heaven quota completely. Saburo’s has mouths to feed too.

 

I can’t choose who I fall in love with, nor can I choose what draws to me to a certain place. I just know that my automatic smile will help me get through even the unnecessary ugliness of my residence back home.

About the Author:

I was born and raised an hour south of Portland, Oregon (according to the way my parents drive). Graduated college from the University of Oregon, double majoring in Chinese and Asian Studies, double minoring in Religious Studies and Political Science. Bilingually speaks Vietnamese and English, with neither one being better than the other.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

Gratitude Travel Writing Contest

We hope you enjoyed this entry in the We Said Go Travel Gratitude Writing Contest. Please visit this page to learn more and participate. Thank you for reading the article and please leave a comment below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Said Go Travel