Excellent yet emotionally disengaged Service Chiriashi good Caesar salad salad mediocre Wine excellent Soup excellent Sake excellent, but you have to heat it yourself in the business room microwave Wonderful, ambience, classy hotel I'll keep coming for the quality of the fresh food read more

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I was staying at the Sigma Hotel in San Jose, and I was told to go to the bar called AJI bar and robata and try their Smoked Old Fashioned. I decided I would as this is my favorite cocktail. I've had a lot of great ones, some mediocre ones, and unfortunately some bad ones. This was truly sublime! This Smoked Old Fashioned was made with Legent bourbon, amaro averna, an orange, and angostura bitters. This was perhaps the best Old Fashioned I've ever had. I did try this both smoked and unsmoked. I will say I liked the smoked one better. It was a perfect balance of flavors, just the right amount of bourbon, and a surprise ingredient of amaro averna. During my stay at the Sigma Hotel, I think I had five of these and was never disappointed. But one can't survive on bourbon alone. I did need a snack. I went with the Bao Buns. This is made with gochujang bbq fried chicken, aji verde, pickled cucumber, and toasted sesame seeds. These tasted outstanding! This bar has great ambience. There are TVs on the wall, but they don't take away from the elegance of this bar. The service here was outstanding as well. The bartenders even spending some time talking with me about their Smoked Old Fashioned. Whether you live in San Jose, or are visiting, do yourself a favor and head over to the Sigma Hotel. Walk inside and go straight until you hit the AJI bar and robata. Sit down and order a Smoked Old Fashioned. You will not be disappointed. read more

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My husband and I got a ginger mojito and pomegranate gimlet and shared the wagyu sliders. All were excellent! Service was very efficient. 10/10 would absolutely come back. read more

I was here for thanksgiving and we got to choose 2 things off the menu. I got the steak and sushi. Both were pretty tasty! The fries were really good. The service was really slow but I think it was because it was the holiday it was a lot of people there. The holiday decor looked really good as well! So we also had the free dessert and it was molded!!!! Do not recommend read more

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Warning DO NOT order the chicken tortilla soup , so gross, super thick and no flavor whatsoever, to be honest the worst I have ever had plus the service at that point turned out to be so rude and seem like didn't care of my comment about the soup! First I asked for tortilla chips on the side which was ignored , then called the server and asked to please take it off my bill because was to thick he said that's how it's serve and he was going to get me another one with the chips on the side , which he did but nothing helped the disgusting flavor (well no flavor at all) So if you come over here I am warning you DO NOT order the chicken tortilla soup Omg Have to add more , ceviche : they called leche de Tigre , well nothing to do with that , it's all sweet , no a regular ceviche for sure , yeh don't order that either read more

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Customer service is great. Their management is not. The credit card machine was down this week and I had hoped to pay with mine. Unfortunately, they weren't able to comp me the one drink, even thought I waited more than an hour. I asked for the manager to reconsider and she would not. They also said they couldn't release my card. I've been calling to get it back and no one even answers the phone, so days later I will just have to cancel and order a new card. I'm a local and was often here trying to support them, encourage my family and friends to stay here, but that is now over. read more

Found this place via yelp for another birthday dinner with friends. Based on the reviews, it caught my eye as it was located in the Signia by Hilton in Downtown SJ. The photos showed the decor, lighting etc, and the fact that this was a 5 min drive from my apartment, I immediately chose this place. What surprised me was that this "restaurant" is actually a lounge area combined with a lobby. I enjoyed this place as the atmosphere has a more sophisticated and modern feel, but also a stylish yet relaxed environment. It was nice but kind of surprising as the vibe of people were mixed, both dressy and casual. A note to make is that this place does not make reservations anymore. It does get busy during the weekend, especially at night, but they are open and accepts walk-ins. The food was appetizing, but the portions are small for the price. Whether it's sushi, tacos, or other dishes, you can easily rack up a bill if you're really hungry. What contributes to my 3-star rating was our server's oversight. When we asked about the Wagyu sliders, she mistakenly took it as an order without confirming with us first. For my meal, I tried the King Prawn roll, which was decent but didn't make up for the other issues. The drinks, however, were the highlight. I had the Lychee martini, which struck a nice balance between sweetness and alcohol-- HELLA GOOD. Don't think I'd come back, but it is a nice social area and a great place for photos, especially the bathroom lol read more

AJI Bar & Robata - Restaurants Near Me - San Jose, California

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I had won a gift certificate here, so I brought my whole family to check this place out! First of all, the hotel is classy and beautiful. Whatever scent they put throughout the hotel, it smells great the moment you enter inside. It seems like this is a popular hotel since there was a lot of guests coming in & out, which is convenient since it's located in downtown. For our food, I ordered the wagyu sliders, angus beef skewers, lamp chops, and teriyaki salmon. As for drinks, I got the tsurai and the nazca lines cocktail. Looks wise, the food seems to be on a smaller side, but since this isn't an actual restaurant rather than a drink/snack/talk environment, I get it. Regardless, all of the food we ordered was delicious especially that wagyu sliders. We shared amongst four people and we had to order another one because it was that good. Honestly, after eating a few dishes, it was a good portion amount. We felt extremely full after, and the drinks were good as well. My family will definitely come back for that wagyu sliders though. read more

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We came here total of 3 girls. Drinks really good, food was delicious and nice presentation. Love the ambience. Would come back again.

For this location being in a hotel, the food and drinks were really good. The restaurant is situated in the middle of the lobby area of the Signia by Hilton Hotel. Parking is not easy so expect to pay for parking nearby. The sushi was surprisingly very tasty and the rice in the sushi wasn't too sweet which is good. The potstickers were my favorite. They were very well steamed and had a nice sauce on top. The bao had almost like a sauced chicken tender which was new to me. However the veggies in the bao made it taste moist and flavorful. The drinks were really well made. The colors in the drinks were so pretty! One even had a bubble on it. The lychee martini however was my favorite! The service was friendly however it did take a while for the drinks to come out. read more

AJI Bar & Robata - Bao - Restaurants Near Me - San Jose, California

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So this hotel is gorgeous! It has some good bones. But...there are tells of stress and wearing down throughout. I feel like the bar and restaurant is the same way. The food was pretty good. Overpriced but it is a hotel. Their happy hour was decent. The staff were over worked and over run. Nice but busy. The food was good but it took awhile. Recommendations: truffle fries (omg), salmon tartar tacos (in a fried wonton wrapper). Delish. The drinks? They shined. There was a lychee martini and it was, well, amazing. The food and drinks are like the bones of the hotel: amazing. But clearly there are stress points all around. Overall awesome but I wish there was more support for the staff. So if you want to feel swanky and have a drink, this is the place. read more

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I didn't have a chance to try the drinks, but food here was nothing short of amazing. Both the sweet potato fries and the matcha cheesecake were simply to die for! read more

Date: Thursday, December 21st, 2023 Time: around 5:45pm for about 1.25 hours Meal: Dinner / Drinks and Snacks for 2 people How: Walked in and sat at the bar A friend and I were heading to the Sharks game. Decided to drop by Signia beforehand for a quick drink. (I also had a credit I wanted to spend.) We fully intended on only having a drink at the lobby bar. Found out it was actually the restaurant Aji, so in addition to a round of drinks, we decided to grab a few dishes. *Potstickers: lemongrass chicken, aji amarillo, ginger citrus miso sauce ($18) *Chicken Wings: yuzu kosho honey glaze, chilli flakes, lime ($18) *Shishito Peppers: lime & salt grilled shishito, jalapeño yogurt, roasted garlic streusel ($12) *Gingle All the Way: gin, st germaine, cranberry juice, lime juice ($18) *Whiskey Wonderland: Jameson, angostura bitters, orange, house-made cinnamon simple syrup ($20) First off, our server / bartender Eric was wonderful! Attentive without being overly so. I asked for easy on the syrup in the winter wonderland and he was happy to oblige. Even tho the cocktail wasn't really my jam (I'm more of a spirit forward kind of girl), I wanted to try something from their holiday menu. The gin drink was fine if you prefer a lighter mix. The food was pretty good. A little pricey, but that's to be expected from a hotel restaurant / bar / lounge. The pot stickers / gyoza were the best out of the three. Good meat to wrapper ratio. The sauces, peppers, etc, paired well. The wings were cooked nicely, but too sweet for my palate. I asked for a bunch of hot sauce to balance it out. The shishitos unfortunately were drowning in sauce, so you don't really get to experience the flavor / texture of a nice blistered pepper. The ambiance is less restaurant and more bar / lounge which was fine with me. A little swanky, but I enjoyed the atmosphere. We were able to have a conversation and catch up without music blasting in the background. Definitely more my vibe in my old age. If you have the mid tier Hilton CC, this is a nice spot to spend your quarterly credit as food and drinks are charged under the hotel name. Recommend if in downtown for a quick round. Will probably be back to try their classic cocktails. read more

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Food 10/10 Service 9/10 Ambiance 10/10 Came here on a Friday night, wasn't busy but we had reservations anyways. Love the classy lounge atmosphere, great for kickbacks with friends or love ones. The cocktails are delicious and pretty. Try the old fashion with less syrup- very good and strong. Can't go wrong with any dishes on the menu. Save room for dessert, try the matcha cheesecake, it's so good! It's at the Signa Hilton, so you can stroll downtown after your meal. Enjoy it! read more

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This place is more of a lounge setting in the middle of the hotel than a restaurant setting. To get the waiter's attention it's best to sit at the bar and order your drinks/food. Otherwise, if you sit on one of the couches, you will have a hard time getting a hold of any of them. That being said, we love the cocktails and the appetizers here. They have their holiday cocktails around this time of year (Santa's Helper and the Tsurai with 2 shots of vodka is my favorite). It's strong and flavorful which is the right combination you want to have if you want to get your money's worth in cocktails. We ordered the potsticker and the wagyu sliders to pair with our drinks. I love the wagyu sliders, I think they cooked it really well (9/10). For the potstickers, the sauce is really good, but I found the potstickers themselves to be a bit dry. It seemed like they used frozen potstickers, in my opinion. For that, I have to give it a 7/10. I'll be back for the cocktails for sure. read more

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Tonight, we ventured downtown to the Signia by Hilton hotel, formerly known as the Fairmont, to explore AJ1 Bat & Robata for dinner. While I had a sushi craving and we usually frequent my favorite spot, Sanraku, we decided to change things up. Expecting a traditional dinner experience, we found AJ1 to have more of a lounge bar atmosphere. The hotel's renovation was impressive, embracing a cozy retro chic vibe. The menu leaned towards finger foods and sushi rolls, so we sought our server's recommendations, a tradition for us when trying new restaurants. Following his advice, we indulged in potstickers, a sashimi bowl, sliders, and salmon skewers. To complement our meal, we ordered cocktails, a well-executed dirty martini and an old fashioned. The bartender's skill was evident, and we'll gladly return for more cocktails in the future. The food, in general, was rich in flavor and portion size. And the prices were quite reasonable for the quality. Our standout favorite was the potstickers, paired with a unique savory sauce that negated the need for soy sauce. Although we initially hoped for fresh sushi, we found ourselves enjoying the cooked options. AJ1 is a nice choice for a date night, a gathering with friends, or even convention attendees staying at the hotel. For those seeking authentic sushi and an extensive seafood menu, other options may be more suitable. However, AJ1's vibe remains a lovely choice to share with family, friends and colleagues. read more

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It's the bar area in the lobby of Hilton San Jose. Setting is nice but food is overpriced. Cocktails were pretty good and the bartender was really nice. read more

AJI Bar & Robata - Salmon Tataki - Restaurants Near Me - San Jose, California

Came here for a second time with girlfriends on a Tues evening and had a great time connecting over yummy food, with great service and impeccable ambiance. This lounge bar and hotel was taken over by Hilton and it is the most luxurious lounge i've been in in SJ. I love sitting at the couches and feel relaxed when i'm here. We ordered the sweet potato fries and shishito peppers to start along with non- alcoholic beverages. The sweet potato fries r to die for. Thick and crispy and fluffy in the inside with yummy sauce drizzled around. The shishito peppers were yummy as well. I liked my non-alcoholic drink not too sugary and mild. ( i got the Tsurai). We ordered the crispy salmon tacos but had to send them back bc we did not like the taste. They were gracious about it and also sent us a fresh cut of the salmon compliments of the chef which was so nice!! We also ordered the Tuna Taki, Veggie roll, Hamachi and mango roll. My fav was the Hamachi and mango roll, plenty of raw fish and tasted fresh. The tuna taki and veggie roll was very good as well. Ended the course with a raspberry cheesecake which was very nice and served with fresh cut fruit. Someone also bought me a drink from the bar so got to try the Ponzi Pinot Noir which was so delicious and smooth! This is the place to be to chill and even meet new classy people. Def recommend to check out! read more

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San Jose is already a somewhat expensive place to be at, I figured I'd let loose and dine in. Best item for values worth was the sushi bowl plate. Meager portions inclined me to make another purchase. The portion size of the "Goza chicken", which was 2 abysmal portioned chewy rubber like taco. I appreciate the kindliness, and friendly hotel staff, But now i know that this isn't my cup of tea. Cheers! read more

Ambiance is awesome - we went on a Friday night and it was so fun. Aji Robata is located in the lobby bar area of the Signia Hotel (formerly Fairmont) - DJ was playing old school, R&B & Freestyle favorites, and Jerome, as our server, was very attentive and wonderful. Food, to be honest, was good in an average way - a bit pricey... the grill items were better than the sushi rolls, but considering the overall ambiance, service and setting, it's still good for an chill evening out. read more

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Exceeded our expectations! Came here for a quick bite before Christmas in the park & everything was delicious! Here's what we got: - pork belly - mushrooms - sliders - seared salmon tataki roll Pork belly's flavor is so good, but it is fatty! Worth it though! Sliders are good and unique but fried. Still worth it! I also got the pink spritz and would get it again. Light and tasty, very dangerous! :) Staff is extremely friendly and attentive! We'll definitely be back! read more

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Came for a date night during the winter; the ambiance was great and the live DJ helped soften the noise from the outside Christmas in the Park crowd. Service was attentive, bar had good options for food and drinks, and the seating was comfortable. Definitely a unique vibe for downtown San Jose, which we loved! The food was VERY good, portions are just right. It's a little on the pricier side but you definitely get what you pay for. Great experience here! read more

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This incident occurred on New Year's Eve at the Aji Bar/Lounge inside the Signia by Hilton San Jose formerly known as the Fairmont. My family and I have a tradition of enjoying Christmas in the Park and we stroll and love looking at the decorations all around the area. We had forgotten that the Fairmont was no longer the Fairmont and now a Hilton hotel. We still decided to go in and check out the newly updated lobby. We decided to sit in the lounge area and order drinks. I had the lychee martini and my husband had the smoked old fashioned. I think it is my duty to let the public be aware of the following so that they can be careful next time before they eat and drink inside this hotel. To our absolute disgust, there was a DEAD COCKROACH in my husband's drink. He took a few drinks and at the first sip he felt something on his lips but thought that it was a piece of cherry. Half way through his drink we noticed something inside the glass. I was shell shocked to see the DEAD COCKROACH and was sick to my stomach after seeing this. This is not incidental, a cockroach cannot just creep in, there has to be an infestation or their preparation areas are not up to the accepted hygiene standards otherwise you wouldn't find a cockroach in your drink. Our server was freaking out and she mentioned that a week prior a customer killed a roach in front of her with her tray. This is a severe hygienic and health hazard and I am surprised how nonchalant and dismissive the management of this lounge and hotel treated this situation. The manager, an Italian woman came over and explained that these sort of things happen...excuse me? What?! Our drinks were replaced and we were given appetizers. We begrudgingly and uncomfortably had them and feel like this was done to shut us up and get us out. We used to love coming to the then Fairmont we have a lot of great memories at this hotel and happily gave this new Hilton and bar/lounge a try but it seems to me that they have an infestation issue that should be addressed by the health department. We will not be going back to this hotel to sleep and much less eat. If you see one roach there are a 100 more if you see 2 within a week it's a serious issue. Such a traumatic and disappointing experience. Avoid at all costs. read more

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This was the perfect location for dinner before a show at the San Jose Civic. The food was good and hit the spot for what we were hoping to have before the show. I didn't realize it was the space in the hotel lobby but we ordered a crap ton of food. There was only one server on the floor and one bartender, but once we ordered it was smooth sailing. The vibe is cool. I'd go back for sure. read more

AJI Bar & Robata - Restaurants Near Me - San Jose, California

New lobby bar and restaurant inside the new Signia by Hilton in downtown San Jose (formerly the Fairmont Hotel)! Nice remodel with a contemporary vibe. The remodel took place during the pandemic when hotels were closed. Check out my before and after photos. They did a great job! Many of the items are easily shareable. I'd recommend getting a few to share. The Crispy Salmon Tartare ($17) was my fav. The wonton wrappers "taco shells" were nice and crispy and filled with a generous portion of salmon tartare. I'd get this again! Really good!! Potstickers ($18.00) were also great. The aji amarillo ginger citrus miso sauce really made this dish! Would probably pass on the Chicken Wings ($18). Couldn't really distinguish between the flavors of yuzu, honey, chili or lime. Very mediocre. And at $3.00+ per wing, I would've rather had another order of the Crispy Salmon Tartare. If you prefer eating at a table, then grab a seat at the bar. Otherwise it's lounge seating, which is pleasantly well spaced. Service was friendly and efficient. read more

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The pictures on Yelp do not match the actual food. The sushi from here is equivalent the local grocery store. Inconsistent rice ratio, the "seared" rolls tasted like butane, presentation was awful. I was very disappointing because what I ordered did not look like the pictures on Yelp. Two drinks and three rolls was 105.00. I walked passed a Morton's on my way to Aji, I so regret not walking out when I realized this restaurant is in the Hotel. read more

Excellent service best French fries in the world! The sliders wer also amazing fast friendly and accommodating service .

I love the fusion of flavors at this restaurant and the renovated bar/lounge area speaks for itself. It wasn't too busy on the evening when I came in but they had some live music which was nice. As for dishes I loved the sushi rolls we tried and the sweet potato fries were amazing. The sauce was . This is a great spot for a nicer or initiate date night. read more

AJI Bar & Robata - Restaurants Near Me - San Jose, California

Solid 4.5 stars Whenever I visit this particular hotel, I always bump into celebs. Last weekend, LAUV was relaxing at the lounge before his Poptopia performance. Nice guy! But that's not why AJI gets the high rating. Service (5/5) First off, we received an absolutely superb service from Crister. She was friendly, always on top of things, made me a special cocktail and didn't lose her smile even when they got crazy busy. Food (4.5/5) I cannot stress how good the food was. Everything we tried was very tasty, beautifully presented and had a nice spin on flavors. -Crispy salmon tartare ($17): you get three large fried gyoza skin shells filled with a ton of fresh salmon and avocado chucks topped with two types of roe. I liked the addition of the spicy sauce drops on the side, just wish it was easier to dip. This dish is a bit messy to eat due to the fragile crispy shell, but so worth it. -Tiger prawn sushi roll ($21): This was so good I forgot to take a pic. Now I am not convinced that this was an actual tiger prawn, but it was delish. You were able to clearly taste the freshness of the shrimp and the tuna was nice (could have been a bit spicier). I was tempted to get a second one. -Potsticker ($18): an interesting twist on this standard dish. We found pieces of corn (which we loved) in this dish that weren't listed on the menu. The sauce was flavorful and augmented the lemon grass chicken. This was probably the least favorite dish for me, but it was still great, which says a lot. -Wagyu sliders ($18): two pieces of super tender meaty goodness, topped with a slice of their fried green tomato and piece of sweet potato (both available on the snack menu), avocado and sauce, nestled in a brioche bun. Tasty, rich and filling, if you're looking to tame your hunger beast. Drinks (3.5/5) Now to the drinks, here's where I feel they fell a little short. I ordered the margarita picante and was disappointed. It tasted like a regular basic margarita, zero spice, and they replaced the wasabi pearls (wasabi flavored roe) with regular fish roe(red), which is not the same a honestly slightly off-putting. For $18, this drink was overpriced. My husband had the Nikkei highball wich was smoother, but I couldn't taste any of the passionfruit or ponzu. The old fashioned was much better--spirit forward, bold and aromatic. Crister made me a pomegranate gimlet with egg white foam after I told her I wanted a sweet drink with egg white. I didn't think the drink was particularly sweet, but it was nicely balanced. So a good choice. This will definitely become my go-to place whenever I'm downtown for a show. If you're in the area, give it a go. You won't regret it. PS: the hotel is doggy friendly for my pawrents ;) read more

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I came here on a Saturday night at 5pm with a few friends. For those who don't know, this restaurant is located in the lounge of the Hilton. I was expecting it to look like a restaurant inside, but it really is the hotel lounge. My party of 4 was seated on 2 couches with a low table between us. The setting was more conducive for sipping drinks and chatting rather than actually eating a meal since the table is set quite low (like a coffee table). We ordered a few menu items to split including the crispy salmon tartare, wagyu sliders, and the sweet potato. I didn't eat anything that amazed me. I enjoyed the crispy salmon tartare but it was rather plain - there was no special sauce that accompanied the app that really made it special. Since it's a culmination of raw ingredients, it felt like something I could whip up at home (except for maybe the caviar). The flavor of the sweet potato was good and the lime wedge helped to bring some acidity and brightness to the dish. I do wish it was crispy though, but the dish is advertised as sweet potato and not sweet potato fries so I can understand why it came out the way it did. The wagyu slider was straight up not good. The meat patty was definitely well done cause it was dry af. There was nothing special here that would motivate me to come back. If I was staying at the hilton and wanted a convenient eating option that was located in the lounge, then I would consider dining here but other than that, I'd rather go somewhere else in downtown San Jose. read more

The quick on this place. Service is great. Their staff is attentive and provides a delightful experience. Sushi is good but the other half of the menu, I am not too sure about. I love Peruvian food, I also Love Japanese food, this should be a great combination but i feel it's not for me. Such as the Sweet Potato on the menu. It could have been more crispy and the dousing of sauce on it was just too much. Perhaps just offer it on the side and let people dip it. Cocktails were fine, high end hotel elegance and simple. Beer selection on draft was horrible. With so many breweries in the area all the beers were typical stuff i could from a bar that has no interest in beers. This needs a huge improvement. read more

I tried their Dragon Roll and it was really good, so good I ordered a second roll. Sushi was fresh and tasty. Staff was friendly too.

Very unusual for my SO to say how good the food was. We sat at the bar and the service was terrific. I had the lamb chops and SO had the Wagyu skewers. Will be back! read more

Food selection is small and food is mediocre at best. Service is good though. The food is more bar bits than an actual meal

We stayed at Signia for a wedding in the area and the food was so good at AJI bar & Robata that we came twice! We had a light sushi, one of the salmon ones the first time with added tempura and the King salmon the second time along with bao bun. I have been dreaming of that bao bun ever since, so soft and savory and tangy. It was absolutely amazing. The ginger non alc drink was also great! The service was great and everyone was attentive and checking in, even when really busy. The hotel and restaurant ambiance was so beautiful too, loved the arch ways and comfy but professional feeling to it all. read more

AJI Bar & Robata - King Salmon role and bao buns appetizer - Restaurants Near Me - San Jose, California

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Service was great. Drinks were good and unique. Food was really good. I dug the vibe and super surprised because it was part of the hotel.

Enjoy coming here for sushi and drinks. It more a bar then for having sushi, but it's the best for drinking and having high quality food, especially sushi. While relaxing and drinking read more

Perfect place to get a quick dinner and drinks. We ordered snacks and rolls for dinner and it was delicious! The food had a variety of flavors and spices. The sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had. Would recommend if you're coming to downtown San Jose. Very spacious seating area that is more lounge like. The Hilton recently replaced the Fairmont so this place feels new. Great service as well! read more

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We visited this Bar last night and had an amazing time. The food , drinks, and Dj were all phenomenal But what made our experience even better was the service our server provided for us , she was very welcoming, , friendly and attentive to our table. I wanna give kudos to her for making our experience even better. Thank you, I believe her name was Paola , for providing such an excellent work. We will definitely come back to enjoy and have a great time. read more

Took my husband here on a date for Father's Day (went here without the kiddo though). Located inside Signia by Hilton Hotel. Ambiance is modern and new. Our server Jerome was very nice and gave excellent customer service! Food we got was exquisite!! My favorite was the salmon tartare, hamachi, and salmon tataki!!! The chicken wings, shishito peppers were also good too. I only wished that the tres leches dessert was more moist, but it tasted fine - just a preference. Will come again on Friday or Saturday as I heard they have a DJ playing on these nights. Loved it and def recommend!! read more

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