Bar Futo

4.5 ( 119 reviews )
Checking... 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM See Hours
$50–100
425 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, United States
+1 207-956-7373
Bar Futo is a captivating Japanese restaurant in Portland, ME, that offers a unique culinary experience. Celebrated for its yakitori and inventive cocktails, this vibrant eatery evokes both the thrill of the grill and the artistry of Japanese cuisine. Guests rave about the diverse skewer options, particularly the tsukune chicken meatballs and succulent pork belly. Their bento boxes allow diners to sample multiple flavors, making it a fun and approachable choice for those looking to explore. The cocktails, ranging from the refreshing Cosmo Highball to the inventive Toki Highball, elevate your meal, perfectly complementing the rich flavors of the food. Many patrons also highlight the "Tanuki Hour," where well-priced sake and small plates create a perfect pre-dinner experience. Bar Futo's atmosphere is lively, with an open kitchen that draws diners into the action, enhancing the sense of community and excitement. The accolades, including a chef who semifinaled in the James Beard awards, testify to the restaurant's commitment to excellence. The reviews reflect not just a mastery of flavors but also a dedication to providing a memorable dining experience. Whether it's the umami fries, the delightful kakigori for dessert, or the inviting ambiance, Bar Futo undoubtedly earns its place as a must-visit for anyone in Old Port looking for a touch of Japan.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers delivery
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
    • Serves great cocktails
  • Popular for
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves beer
    • Serves cocktails
    • Serves healthy options
    • Serves small plates
    • Serves spirits
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves breakfast
    • Serves dinner
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has bar on site
    • Has toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Trendy
  • Crowd
    • Good for groups
    • Popular with tourists
  • Planning
    • Dinner reservations recommended
    • Accepts reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Credit cards

Reviews For Bar Futo

Tara Konya
May 31,2025
So much fun! This is a great place to try new things. We started with the chips and dip; the chips had a perfect dusting of flavor. We opted for the bento box that allowed us to try 3 skewer options complemented by rice and pickled veggies. The Big Mac and tsukune (chicken meatball) were our favorites, with the pork belly coming in a closer third. The drinks are a great refreshing touch. Add one on! This is a must-visit place for a unique meal while in the Old Port.
Fat Kid-Diarys
May 25,2025
Loved the beef tartare with the wasabi, the Kaaraga chicken and Big Mac skewers. The drinks all looked really good coming from the bar. We did have a few other skewers, but the sauces were a bit much, and the pork belly wasn’t the tender pork I was expecting. Certainly would go back again for another try.
Chad Klinefelter
Feb 28,2025
Delicious! The menu was diverse. The focus is their yakitori (skewers) and their sake offerings. Tanuki hour (happy hour) was nice, with a few well-priced sakes (I had a great glass of cold sake) and small plates on offer (the umami fries were tasty). I tried a mix of their yakitori, getting 3x and making it a bento (added pickles, rice and soy egg for 6 extra). The tsukune (chicken meatballs) and grilled mushrooms were great, the grilled fish was decent but not my favorite. They have some sneaky good ramen offerings - the futo shio was totally awesome. We sat at the chef's counter, and thus got to see a lot of other great-looking plates going out that we didn't have room to try. We finished with the kakigori (shaved ice) which was a treat for the eyes and taste both - the small/half portion is definitely enough for two people to split, and based on the size of that, I am sure the large/full portion is pretty huge! The vibes were great (music and atmosphere), and service was friendly. Would definitely return.
Sasha Voinov
Feb 25,2025
A wonderful experience! The chef here semifinal'ed in the James Beard awards, leading us to find out about the place and stop by since we were already going to Portland. We got the chef's counter experience and got to see the action in the kitchen, which was cool. The small plate concept is not new but quite refreshing the way it's done here! We enjoyed all of the food, especially the Denver steak. Bravo, team!
Christian H
Feb 21,2025
I initially heard of Bar Futo when the James Beard award list was released. A Japanese-inspired restaurant with yakitori/binchotan grilling wasn't something that I could find easily and had to visit. I sat at the chefs counter, which gave you a full view of the kitchen, dinner and a show. The menu had a lot of options, from the skewers to raw dishes, to noodles and bowls. The cocktails and drinks were also fun and inventive. They even have a Toki highball machine which made the absolute best highball I've ever had! All the skewers I tried were delicious and really filled you up. At the end, the kakigori (Shaved ice) was also monstrous and such a treat. Overall, loved everything about the place and would certainly return.
Peggy Janthanit
Feb 14,2025
Best izakaya/yakitori place I’ve ever been to and I’ve lived in NYC and Hong Kong — we stumbled upon this place on our quick trip to Portland and we were blown away by the quality of the food and service. We got the chilled tofu, and a few yakitori items: chicken thighs (so juicy and tender - amazing!), koji cured denver steak (great quality meat, paired very well with the sauce), grilled mushroom yakitori (very juicy and cooked perfectly), tsukune, and pork belly. We ended our meal with the blueberry breakfast kakigori which was also perfect. Overall, this is one of the best meals I’ve had this year and had to come on here to share my review! Loved it and will definitely take a trip to Portland to come back here.
Miranda Zook
Feb 13,2025
First time eating here and I was very impressed! I started with the Fun Police, very delicious but not too sweet, and ate the fries tofu and side fries. My husband got the Ramen and our friend the fish and chips, all which was excellent! We will be returning!
Vicki Smith
Feb 12,2025
A fabulous dinner, made for foodies. Service was really slow in the beginning (when the restaurant wasn't even really busy yet), but it got much better. The cocktails were yummy, but the food was excellent. Everything so unique and full of so much flavor! Foodie paradise.

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