Shochu in Portland OR

[yamanote]

Well, it is difficult to find, but well worth it if you can.  Once I discovered Shochu in my travels to Tokyo, I never looked back.  So much better than any other alcohol!

Because Shochu generally has 25-30% alcohol content, it is too high to be able to be sold in grocery stores like Uwajimaya (which has a great selection of Sake and Plum Wines, but can't sell the Shochu, darn it!), so in Portland, you have only two choices for buying Shochu, thanks to the ridiculous, state-run liquor stores:  
1.You can drive out to the shopping center surrounding the Beaverton Fred Meyer store, and go to the liqour store just to the right of the west entrance.  They have a decent selection of Shochus, lots of Imoshochu, some barley, some buckwheat, and I think a rice or two.  I haven't checked if they have a black sugar(molasses) or not.  Probably about 15 or so different types, to satisfy the Japanese population in Beaverton.
2.If you live on the SE side of town, and don't feel like driving all the way to Beaverton, you can go to the liquor store at the corner of SE 52nd and Powell.  They  carry one type: Satsuma Shiranami, thanks to a now defunct okonomiyaki restaurant (it was a dagger in the heart when that place closed!).  Luckily for me, I can walk to that liquor store, so when I need a fix and don't mind that it isn't the best quality, I can grab a bottle of that.  I'm pretty sure we're the only people who buy it, but since we have a lot of Japanese guests, we buy enough of it to keep the store ordering it for us.

One warning: Shochu in Portland is stupid expensive!  Plan on at least $30 per bottle for the 'cheaper' stuff, and if you want a really good shochu, plan on spending at least $50.  Drives me crazy, because I can go to the DonQuixote in Shibuya and buy a gallon for $8.  Sigh.....
 

As far as retaurants that serve it, 'Yuzu' is a great izakaya in Beaverton (in a strip mall across the street from the liquorstore/Fred Meyer).  They serve several types along with really good, authentic izakaya type food.   The only drawback is that it all costs more than double what you would spend at an izakaya in Japan.  Oh well.... when I need it, I need it.
In the OldTown/Chinatown area right in the middle of Portland is an Asian-fusion sort of izakaya that has a Japanese Shochu as well as the Korean Shoju (totally different flavor, but interesting)
I hear that there is a full-on Shochu bar in NE PDX somewhere, but I haven't been there yet, so I'll report back about it at some point!



 

[D.UNert]

Portland is totally our fall back plan if we cant get into canada.

-David

[Ovalmix09]

In all, the set was great and I think TPC made some new fans in Portland.  Here are a few more favorite photos from the show.

Daves Smile

[Clieree09]

We never did have much traffic on the West forum on that other site. But if any of you are up here in PDX, there are a bunch of us around, covering all of the cars from the early air stuff to the current wasserpumpers.

So if you are new here, post a reply and say hello

[Clieree09]

Lucky for everyone who shops in Portland, there is no sales tax  Shop 'til you drop and pay the price you see on the tag.

[yamanote]

Found another liquor store that sells shochu.. not as good a selection as the place in Beaverton, but better than the one on 52nd.  Bonus: it is also on the SE side, and I drive by it on my way home from work.  (Actually that's more 'dangerous' than 'bonus')

Corner of 11th and Hawthorne, can't miss it.  And they have probably 8 varieties.