Dayna McErlean, Owner
Hometown:
Staten Island, NY
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Kale Salad and Tataki
Year moved to portland:
1996
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Jameson rocks
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Itisness
Perks of the job:
Room service
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
Upstairs
David Gaspar de Alba, Chef
Hometown:
El Paso, Texas
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Ahi Prosciutto
Year moved to portland:
2003
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Don Julio
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Belly Timber
Perks of the job:
Great Staff
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
Outside
Kyle Lovell, Manager and Sake Girl
Hometown:
Lyman, Maine
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Really Spicy Roll
Year moved to portland:
2009
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Snap Pea Martini
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Assumption School in Thailand
Perks of the job:
Living in SE and working in NE – the best of all the Portland Worlds.
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
Walking to and from other bars and restaurants
Caleb Vasquez, Sous Chef
Hometown:
Grants Pass, OR
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Sashimi Trio
Year moved to portland:
2009
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Blood and Sand
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Geppetto’s
Perks of the job:
New and Interesting food to explore
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
Playing Music
Nick Ramsdell, Bartender
Hometown:
Portland, OR
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Kobe Tartar
Year moved to portland:
Portland native
Favorite drink/cocktail:
The Japanese Bees
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
L & H Grading (heavy machinery and excavation)
Perks of the job:
Looking forward to seeing my co-workers who are some of my closest friends. Working for an employer who allows and encourages creativity and individualism.
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
In Southeast on top of a bicycle, with a golf club in hand, a guitar, a mixed gin beverage, inside a music venue, dancing to electronic alternative music and rooting for the Blazers. Not always at the same time but sometimes.
Valeria Berger, Server
Hometown:
Brookline, MA
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Salmon Tataki
Year moved to portland:
2009
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Beet Martini
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Asiana House in Burlington VT
Perks of the job:
Around good food and good people.
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
At Simpatica.
Spring Snyder, Server
Hometown:
Eden, Montana
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
tako! Or Sashimi trio
Year moved to portland:
5 years ago
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Sugar Snap
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Park Cafe in St. Mary, MT, Farmers Market (where haven’t I worked?!)
Perks of the job:
soaking in the hot tub during the winter months- or the attractive clientele
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
drinking coffee with friends and playing qwirkle
Daniel Strong, Bartender
Hometown:
Billings, MT
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Nubbins (have to order directly from Dave)
Year moved to portland:
2006
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Usually involves Bitters
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
Ten-01
Perks of the job:
Hot Tub
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
On my bike
Bishop Valentine Barnes McErlean, Poster child
Hometown:
Portland native
Favorite Yakuza menu item:
Rice
Year moved to portland:
2007
Favorite drink/cocktail:
Spicy Water
Places worked prior to Yakuza:
I also work at MOA
Perks of the job:
The restaurant is attached to my house
Outside of Yakuza most likely to be found…
Playing in the garden